How to Keep Cats From Catching Birds

The cat population in North America is estimated at about 50 million. Hundreds of millions of birds are killed by cats each year.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Chicken Wire
• Garden Hoses And Attachments
• Cat Collars

1. Keep cats indoors at all times.

2. If a cat is accustomed to being outside, put a collar on it with two bells that jingle when the cat moves.

3. Advise neighbors to do the same with their cats, offering to purchase collars and bells for neighbors' cats if appropriate.

4. Keep feeders and birdbaths 10 feet away from foliage where cats can hide.

5. Put chicken wire around feeders and birdbaths to keep cats out.

6. Turn the hose on any stray cats that come into your yard, or chase them away or otherwise scare them off, repeatedly if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• It is estimated that cats that stay indoors have more than double the lifespan of outdoor cats.
• If a cat injures a bird, contact a licensed bird rehabilitation organization immediately.
• Neighbors with cats are often extremely defensive and resentful toward those who suggest that their felines pose a problem and may react strongly if you spray their cats with water.

[showpup]

on 11/14/2008 Great advice. We've done these things ourselves with our outdoor cats. The bell collar wasn't appreciated much, though when one came to 'visit' my husband in his deer blind. ;)

[CLWeld]

on 9/19/2008 Our in-laws live a couple of doors and allow their two cats to roam. I can state unequivocally that those two cats easily kill about 10 bird a week - more in spring/summer breeding season - and I have been called over often to "care for" many of the birds the cats bring in as half-dead "prizes". I do not hate cats; I own seven of them, myself. They are not allowed outdoors for any reason and are perfectly happy inside. If you can't stand to have your cat(s) indoors and safe with you, don't own them.

As an aside, one of my in-law's cats was struck and killed by a car just last week. Guess who had to scrape him from the road. It's a shame, all the way 'round. Keep your fuzzy kids inside. It helps prevent heartache.

[TinRose]

on 9/3/2008 Cats are not endangered, but many of our native animals are, including birds, frogs, toads, and much more. Owning a cat is like owning a loaded gun. They are very efficient, proficient, and indiscriminate hunters and if they are misused, animals die and people get hurt. Fact: cats kills by the thousands each year. Studies prove that bells on cat collars only work 34% of the time and only against birds and a small portion of wildlife. Bibs only work 72% of the time, again only against birds and a small portion of wildlife. The average "owned" cat allowed outdoors will kill an animal every once every 1-3 weeks depending on where they live. In rural areas, this can be even higher. In rural areas, cats often become prey and there is no vaccination to prevent them from contracting ringworm, worms, parasites, blood-borne diseases, fleas, ticks, and worse as they bring them home to thei

[bronxace]

on 10/4/2007 Suzie -- not so!! ALL my cats have lived outdoors and are doing JUST FINE and are QUITE happy!! Ever see a cat get killed by a car--? It's Vicious and the cat SUFFERS HORRIBLY -- KEEP EM INDOORS -- UNLESS you have a well-installed and safe Cat-Fence-in system!!!

And as for cats killing songbirds -- get real-- I've seen ONE bulldozer ddstroy the habitats of THOUSANDS of songbirds in TWO days-- NO CAT COULD EVER DO THIS MUCH DAMAGE!! Oh Thank you so much for destroying this earth, members of Man" KIND" (not!!!)

[Suzie]

on 6/14/2007 Keeping cats indoors is an extermely cruel & unnatural thing to do. You say indoor cats have prolonged lives but they are often bored & very frustrated as they are prevented from practicing natural behaviour. While I agree that pet owners should take every precaution possible to stop their cats catching birds [i.e bells, anti hunting collars & bibs etc] keeping them indoors should NOT be an option.