Friends cat catching birds

[bagpuss90]

Okay -so I know cats hunt and it’s hard to stop them … However AIBU in thinking my friend should not have a bird feeding station in her garden when her cat is catching and killing a bird practically every day -three in one day a couple of weeks ago . It just sits there in wait . It’s like they’re being lured to their deaths. She won’t put a bell on the cats collar so the birds have half a chance . Don’t get me wrong-I love cats. But she says herself the cat is slowly but surely wiping out the bird population of her garden

She really should not have a bird feeder in her garden, or at least no where near where a cat could get it, that's so thoughtless of her.

I got rid of our bird feeders when we got the cats as I felt it wasn't fair on the birds

We have a cat who has goes through phases of murderous traits and this is why we don't have bird feeders in the garden.

I was going to say YABU until I read about her having a bird table where the cat can reach it! YANBU

It's quite cruel of her to put a bird feeding station in reach of the cat, but then again it's not really any of your business to moan about it on here if you haven't actually spoken to her about it?

I would love to have a bird table, but I have two hunting cats and it just wouldn't be right. :(

No wonder the cat is killing so many birds, she's baiting them!

@HirplesWithHaggis if you love the birds enough to want to watch them live and even thrive, why have 2 hunting cats? Do your have bell collars? Do you keep yours in overnight so at least the fledglings have a chance feeding early morning?

That’s horrible of her. I think of someone that does that as a nice person so probably wouldn’t want to be their friend.

It's awful cats do so much damage to natural wildlife. Nature lovers don't keep cats, it sounds like she's more interested in keeping a captive animal for her own joy. Some people just are like that.

We have a cat, we also have bird feeders. Our cat has never killed a bird in our garden, but then we don't have that many small birds where we are. Too many magpies and crows that kill small birds in our area.

My parents have a bird feeder and a cat but she's old and lazy so the birds happily feed while she ignores them. She's certainly not a prolific hunter like your friend's cat, and does wear a bell.

Your friend is awful

RSPB studies show that birds make up a tiny percentage (less than 5%) of a feral cat’s diet and that the majority of the birds caught are old or sick. There is slightly more risk when fledglings leave the nest towards the end of summer.

Having a bird table that gives the cat access to feeding birds is a little shit though!

It’s a cat feeder not a bird feeder.

[quote SurferRona]@HirplesWithHaggis if you love the birds enough to want to watch them live and even thrive, why have 2 hunting cats? Do your have bell collars? Do you keep yours in overnight so at least the fledglings have a chance feeding early morning?[/quote]
I live on a farm, they kill more mice and rats than birds.

YANBU - I'd love a bird feeder but it's not fair with 6 cats - mine tend to hunt mice - many many mice heads on the floor during spring and summer - we do get birds occasionally but we have mice under the shed so they tend to target them

I just don’t not understand why cat owners don’t just put a bell collar on them. Anyone?

YANBU - I am a cat owner and lover, and you can't have it both ways if you have a cat that catches wildlife. She should not be attracting birds knowing full well her cat can and does kill them.

@PinkSyCo

I just don’t not understand why cat owners don’t just put a bell collar on them. Anyone?

Because collars can get caught on eg tree branches, and strangle the cat. My friends cat caught a back leg in his while he was outdoors, and starved to death. Breakaway collars exist, but most cats can remove them easily.

GreenFingersWouldBeHand
I have . She says that’s what cats do

@PinkSyCo

I just don’t not understand why cat owners don’t just put a bell collar on them. Anyone?

I wouldn't put any type of collar on as it can be dangerous to the cat

Because collars can get caught on eg tree branches, and strangle the cat. My friends cat caught a back leg in his while he was outdoors, and starved to death. Breakaway collars exist, but most cats can remove them easily.

Oh that’s so sad about your friends cat.

Yeah, she was devastated when his emaciated corpse was found by a passerby ( he had hidden away in bushes, was a very shy cat) and id'd by chip. :(

I love having a bird feeder but since I got a cat that gladly catches birds I wouldn't dare put a feeder in. YANBU!