If you have a cat you have to stop it scaring and eating birds

[lasagnelle]

Get a bell collar or something. Give the wildlife a chance. Can you train cats to leave birds alone?

I don't think it's a joking matter even if there's no perfect solution. I love cats and wildlife.

I have 2 cats and they both have collars and bells. They seem to stay on, from paw some couture. Clip, not buckle so apparently safe.

The advice I've been given and will been sticking to even if our name is mud among the cats is to keep them in at the height of nesting season for a few weeks.

Cat owners are generally really selfish. They don't think it's a problem when their cats shit all over other people's gardens either.

SOME

introduced predator

Introduced by whom? We don’t get to upset any animals natural habitat and location then get upset by the damage it causes. We are the ones who relocated cats to suit ourselves, we don’t get to now punish them because they don’t behave how we would like them to.

birds have large broods specifically for this reason.

This varies massively depending on species.

@lasagnelle you can't train cats to not hunt....its in their DNA!!!! What a totally goady post

humans slaughtering animals

tbf there is often some small chatter around this subject…

We were without a cat for about a year. My back garden became pigeon street with them all pooping everywhere constantly. Delighted the cat keeps them at bay. Less delighted when he brings one inside.

You're making the effort

Cats are bred in large numbers. Lions aren't.

And humans slaughtering animals is a whole other thread I won't go into here 😬

Juicy breasts??!

Sensible.

1st cat we had was a prolific hunter and the bell didn't make a difference at all. Unfortunately he was killed (by a child with a pellet gun). The 2nd and 3rd cats (moved in at the same time) didn't chase anything bigger than a daddy-long-legs and once in their 20s didn't even bother them. Current cat occasionally chases a pigeon but as he's 18 and has arthritis he's never going to catch one. Not interested in chasing anything else at all - he said 'why should I? I have servants to prepare my meals and I don't believe in tipping!'

And if you have a dog, don’t use flea treatments.
www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/nov/17/pet-flea-treatments-poisoning-rivers-across-england-scientists-find

You can put bells on them. As someone else suggested you can keep them in during certain times of the year. I don't know what you can and can't train a cat to do, I don't have one!

I'm not really sure what can be done about cat poo

Bells make no different - if anything, it just makes them even stealthier.

All three of mine go out but only one is a hunter - normally rats/mice but he's also caught two pigeons and a sparrow in the past.

No no that's good the article I linked suggested indoor cats. Why would anyone paste you. Some cats can't go outside

@Tophelleborine behave.

Would this ever work? Modus operandi seems to be to hide stock-still under a bush next to the lawn, wait patiently for bird to land within a metre or two, pounce. I can't see that a bell would make any difference.

Do you mind lions killing gazelles? Foxes killing rabbits? Birds eating worms? It's what animals do. Even the RSPB says that cats do not have a significant effect on bird numbers.

Maybe some kind of electronic noise maker. Like they put in electric cars

I just want to burst into song "it's the cirrrrrrrrrrrrrcle of life"

Cats be catting. They have for generations and will continue for generations.

Cats contribute to the health of the bird population as lions contribute to the health of the zebra population and tigers contribute to the health of the Gazelle population. Only the weak and sick get caught, most birds stay well out of reach.

@lasagnelle maybe get a cat yourself and try and train it..... please do update us with the results!!!! 🫤🤣