Neighbours, cats and birds.

[Birdmurderer]

NC for this but regular.

We've lived in out house for a year, on a "hello" basis with next door. She's got a voice you can hear 3 streets away and her eldest daughter seems to have inherited it. A few issues but generally ok neighbours.

We have 3 cats - one who is old and never leaves the decking area of our garden, one who seems to have another family a few doors down (other side to neighbour in question), and one who likes to peep through their chain link fence at them but is too much of a mamas boy to leave our garden. (we've had a lot of time during lockdown to confirm our theories about where they go during the day). They made it clear from day one they don't like cats and will talk loudly about how awful our cats are when they know we're within earshot .

DP just went outside to get his bike and the woman is sobbing in the garden. Spots DP and starts shouting at him because apparently one of ours cats has eaten a bird that she was looking after (she has a feeding table in her garden).

DP apologised - for what I'm not sure - and sort of left it there and went off about his day. I was still in bed when all this happened.

He's gone out now and I can hear her sobbing and shouting in the garden about this bird.

There are 2 big cats the other side of her, one of which is horrible and has put my little cat in the vets twice. I think that's the culprit over my fat old one who sleeps 23 hours a day, the deserter, and the little one who can't catch his own tail.

AIBU to think she's massively overreacted? I have quite bad social anxiety and I am not good with confrontation so I'm hiding indoors now.

@SweetMarmalade

Feel free to soak my cats if they look at a fledgling

Most fledglings die naturally before breeding age. It's not nice, but cats aren't the only animal that will go for a weak fledgling. We have a street full of cats and blackbirds here, and my two have never caught one.

They've caught between them 4 in their murdering career. 1 dead robin, 3 (robin, bluebird, wood pigeon) who we were able to rescue.

I've had 4 at one time. All waifs and strays. No one should dictate how many pets is acceptable, just like people shouldn't judge people with more than 2 kids.

@Gimmecaffeine it shall be done

I am like a mum tiger when fledglings appear in my garden. I feel the stress their parents do with the unwelcome visitors, especially Blackbirds whose worrying call sets me on edge.

I found a fledgling starling in the garden the other morning without a head, nice to wake up too. I don’t doubt that was either a bastard magpie or sparrow hawk, although I’m edging my bets on the flaming Maggie! It is nature but it’s hard at times, just like one of those David Attenborough documentaries, harrowing but fascinating all rolled in to one.

We use Bird Be Safe - basically it’s a brightly covered ruff that fits over their collar. Means the birds see them and get away. She still catches mice rabbits and squirrels given the chance. I honestly think all outdoor cats should wear them. She was a prolific hunter of birds. And it’s basically a tube of material so you can make your own rather than buy it.

Well, when I was still quite bleary eyed and posted this at 8.30 I just wanted to know if my neighbour was being a dick. I certainly didn't expect an 11 page dissertation on the pros and cons of cats 😂

Beg your pardon, 12 pages! Conversation starter over here.

I have two cats, only one is a hunter. I have to say, there are times that I would happily give her away such is the carnage, especially at this time of year and I will never have another cat after this one dies.
Both are equipped with collars and bells; the collar I got from the French equivalent of the RSPB as it is very bright and apparently has reduced the number of bird deaths considerably since it was introduced.

I can’t believe the number of people who think cats should be kept indoors. Just really cruel.

@pinkhousesarebest thanks for being honest about the carnage cats can cause. That’s why, although lovely, I couldn’t own a cat. They are heartless hunters and kill things for kicks!

Nature or not, it’s still heartbreaking when a domestic animal kills a wild animal, when it doesn’t need food, doesn’t need to feed their young, doesn’t need to kill to survive!

It’s pretty shit!

"* Would you enjoy having a bell round your neck tinkling whenever you moved, day or night?"

No I hate it, but it was for the best. Poor George Clooney was getting worn out.

SweetMarmalade it causes me so much stress. She brought home a leveret last week. Just such a waste. I was reading about the demise of the Bilby in Australia. That has been hastened by urbanisation and crucially, people bringing their cats with them. Our feathered friends never signed up for cats.

@RunningAwaywiththeCircus that must have been horrific and I’m so sorry but, there are conflicting story’s about this. There are reports that foxes will kill not for shits and giggles but to store food for later. They don’t have a ready supply of food unlike domesticated cats, they’re opportunists.

Still, I would have been devastated too so totally understand how you feel.

@pinkhousesarebest you must love your cats but that must have been so upsetting

I’d heard foxes kill for later on too. No animal does anything it hasn’t GOT to do because survival is tough so you don’t want to waste energy if you don’t know where the next meal is coming from.

It doesn’t make sense to kill something and not eat it.

ChardonnaysPetDragon

**I have two big dogs who spend their time in the garden now. They chased off at least two cats yesterday. Well, there was some noise, so I hope that's what happened”

Lol. Any cat worth it’s salt can outwit dogs any day 😂

It’s it’s normal on MN for cats to kill birds.
But not for dogs to kill things,

Lol. Any cat worth it’s salt can outwit dogs any day

LOL, but no. Don't ask how I know.

I had to go and save the stupid cat. Now that was before she had a go at the birds' nest. I won't bother again.

They are heartless hunters and kill things for kicks!

Cats don’t have a concept of doing things for kicks. They hunt and kill because of instinct.

They don’t see a mouse and laugh evilly to themselves before hatching a plan to murder them. Or think, I’m a bit bored of sitting in this patch of sunlight, think I’ll go on a murder spree.

They kill for fun not food and because they want to not because they have to.

Nope. They kill because of instinct. It’s not a hobby they’ve taken up. They aren’t people in tiny cat suits thinking ohh well I know Marge has bought the whiskers in but I do fancy a spot of murder.

DP's childhood cat was killed by a bird. Most people where I am keep their cats indoors though, because there are plenty of predators around. I do think more Brits should keep cats indoors tbh.

And, as much as I like cats and dogs, I do think it's time people moved to having greener pets (rabbits, rats or whatever else has a lower carbon footprint).

I'm astounded at the number of people who assign human behaviours and thought processes to other animals.

The instinct is so strong in cats they literally can't help it. Get a small cat toy on a string and watch their eyes. They are evolved for this.

Kill for shits and giggles? FFS