Cats killing all the baby birds

[paperdollar]

There are so many cats in the neighbourhood the baby birds don’t stand a chance. I don’t understand how people can’t take responsibility for their cats and keep them inside during nesting season (at the very least) to stop them butchering all the local wildlife. All that time and energy spent by birds tending to their nest and providing food for them to be killed without even having a chance. One cat in particular has been stalking mine and my 2 neighbours gardens and taken most of the baby birds that have come this year, this is the least we have ever seen. Despite shooing it, chasing it, using water pistols/jugs of water, dogs chasing it, lions poo, high up feeders, removing feeders etc. I have been to the owners door to ask her to keep it inside for a bit to give the birds a chance but she said it is an outdoor cat and it is “nature” and nothing she can do about it. It is nature for birds and other wildlife to prey on baby birds as a means of survival, not your overbred, overfed domesticated cats. One cat owner has 9 cats with a nest in her gutter, next door to that has 3 with a nest also. One of them has a feeding pole in her garden low to the ground, so my stopping feeding the birds means they will be going there to take their chances. I can’t believe foxes are put down for killing cats for survival but nothing can be done about this. It is making me ill to witness, these irresponsible owners are not animal lovers. I post at the end of my rope having just chased one with a screaming baby in it’s mouth and dropping it only once it stopped. I’m wondering if anyone else has ever suffered the same and found something to do about it.

Exactly, everybody goes mad (as they should) when dogs worry sheep, kill ground nesting birds etc.

When cats kill garden birds it doesn't matter and is excused.

@vimtosogood

It should be incumbent on citizens who own cats or kittens (COCKs for short) to confine them to their property, not for normal people to proof their own gardens.

It isn't though, so if people don't want cats in their gardens they then have the choice to cat proof or not.

@Tomatobear but do they? I think it’s the other way round. Countless threads in bloody cats eating birds on mumsnet. About one on the environmental damage dogs do. It’s not as wildly known or reported on. You yourself seemed to think dogs weren’t a problem. Case in point,

[quote Poorlykitten]@Tomatobear but do they? I think it’s the other way round. Countless threads in bloody cats eating birds on mumsnet. About one on the environmental damage dogs do. It’s not as wildly known or reported on. You yourself seemed to think dogs weren’t a problem. Case in point,[/quote]
I think this also shows that mor people are affected by cats than dogs in this matter tbh.

Everyone with half a brain and reading any news knows that irresponsible fog ownership is on the rise and with it attacks on livestock. But, most of us don't have fields and lifestock. Hence why more threads about cats. Not that people don't care, but it does affect more people overall.
For example, there is apparently 34k people employed on sheep farms (you just have to love google), so you have 34k or so of people dealing with aftermaths (which are admittedly more gruesome than cat kill and I feel for the people), but you have millions dealing with cat issues from poop, dead small animals, cat fights, bullying of other cats and smaller dogs etc.

So logically there will be more threads about cats messing, than dogs attacking lifestock and game.

I just think it’s because we assume that cats are killers and it’s in their nature but we don’t assume that about dogs. I know plenty of incidents of dogs mauling cats and other animals ( not necessarily livestock, it’s fairly common. Not to mention people. But doesn’t seem important next to wild birds...Plus mumsnet is extremely dog-centric.

...Cats bullying dogs?

@Poorlykitten

...Cats bullying dogs?

Yup. Cat's are fearless. Especially around smaller dogs. Going by the size of poop I had in a garden not so long ago, people also have tigers (still a cat?) as pets so yup. My cat used to bully my dog who was 30kg heavier (and me...).

Yes, I know what you mean but i think it's still also about numbers. We have lost 1 cat to dogs who got lose a street away, when I was young. I know personally 1 person who was attacked by a random dog that it left mark. Not much, but it absolutely does happen, it makes news. Imagine if cats were the size to do damage like that. I think there would be no discussion about roaming. The thing is that with dogs there is an (unrealistic lately I guess) expectation of some control, while cats are just let out with "run free ya poop machine! Run to the wildreness of others' gardens ya furry little killer!".

Come to think of it, I don't think we should even be comparing them. They all come with different laws, responsibilities, strenght etc.

Side note. I personally think there should be dog licence you can only get after some course you pass (especially now).

I literally sat beside a baby bird and watched it pass this morning on my dog walk. I found it at the top of the field, there was feathers everywhere and then I found the bird with a huge hole in its back and a big gauge from its neck and wing. I rang my sister to collect it to take it to the rspca and be put out of pain, and a few mins after she arrived it took two big deep breaths and died. Sounds silly but I cried, I've never seen any sort of animal die and the way it dropped its little head whilst looking absolutely mauled was awful. It really upset me x

@LoopyLoux

Oh no poor little birdy :( I’m sorry you had to see that. It doesn’t sound silly at all to have empathy for animals and react to them in pain, just shows you have a kind heart. At least you were there to offer some comfort in its last moment xx

I wouldn’t feed the birds if I owned a cat. So YANBU in that respect.
Here we’ve noticed there aren’t many ducklings this year, they’ve been snatched up by large fish/pike what have you. Had the misfortune of seeing one being gulped.

Agree op but it seems many cat owners don't have a cattery outside, on Pinterest there are so many ways to get cats safely outside!

I don't think that was cat. It may have been bird of prey losing the kill on a way. Their young ones are in now and growing lile crazy (you can find online webcams!) ! Only few kinds are on green conservation lost thanks to us people...

But I feel you, I know how distressing this is even if it's not your pet @LoopyLoux

It's nature. It would be incredibly cruel to keep majority of cats who are outdoor inside for a few months. Would you be there to put up with the constant meowing? No. YABVU. I like birds and it is sad but its nature. Maybe think about the good cats do. They keep the pest population down. I love cats and posts like these make my blood boil. There are other animals responsible for killing chicks not just cats.

Fun fact!

There is approximately 118 pet cats per square mile in uk😁 That's actually impressive.
Similar number to pet dogs! 106 per square mile. For balance.

I am actually surprised at the 10 million pet dogs
(I assume pet refers to not stray?)

@HeckyPeck
I know it isn't, but COCKs calling for it to become a legal requirement to report every time one of their pets runs out in front of car might see their hypocrisy whilst it isn't.
They also don't know who has lilies in their garden.

I can’t believe that’s a true fact!!!

@Poorlykitten

...Cats bullying dogs?

The cat across the road went for a Labrador the other day, literally flew across the road and started going wild. Tonight it went for my dog, a swift kick up the arse and the fucker still came back for more. Scares the shit out of me.

@Poorlykitten

I can’t believe that’s a true fact!!!

I am not sure you are talking about lillies above or my fun fact😂 Toome, I just add, it counts all square miles including fields.

Well done that cat! 😂

lion poo (apparently) you get some from local zoo & put it on the cat entry points in your garden & it scares the cats (mind I can't imagine the smell & I can't help but wonder what the birds must think about it) How you go about buying it I haven't a clue - emoji picture holding nose!

Zoos won't give you poo due to possible pathogens. I think you can buy sterilised lion/tiger pellets online though? But I don't know how effective they are anyway!

Really? I remember one zoo selling bucketloads of elephant shit as a fertiliser😂

From the mouse carcasses lying around our front gardens this summer, I'm pretty glad there's a number of free-range cats managing pest numbers in the neighbourhood.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Really? I remember one zoo selling bucketloads of elephant shit as a fertiliser😂

Yeah I think that was Chester? Many years ago, guess elephant poo is safer as they're herbivores. But they don't sell any kind of poo now so guess the zoo poo rules have changed!

It wasn't. It was abroad. Nice that Chester did too! Apparently it was actually a good feed😂