can you feed the birds when you have cats?

[bubble2bubble]

And if so, what kind of bird feeder do you get?
Feel guilty for not feeding the birds - it is so cold & six inches of snow everywhere.
We have three cats all of whom are good hunters, not to mention two dogs...Is it just a lost cause? Don't want to end up with murdered robins all around the garden IYSWIM

I do, but my cat has his catflap at the front of the house, and the feeder is in the back, so cat not out there much. He is also old so out of his prime catching time and thankfully has brought nothing home for many months now.

I use a pole feeder with hanging feeders on it so the birds are up high out of the way when eating. It is close to dense foliage so the birds can hide away in there and come and go when they are happy they are safe. Also have a dog - the birds just scarper when she is out, but soon come back when it is clear.

Hmm.
Just googled bird table and found this which is kind of what I imagine our boys will think a bird table is for....

I've tried but the birds shun me and my garden.

My parents manage just put the bird table somewhere that a cat couldn't jump on to it from, so not too near a windowsill, fence, tree etc.

Now looking at feeder poles on the RSPB site - seems fairly cat proof in theory

I fed the birds one springtime.....I inadvertently let the cat out at the same time....

We have dogs and cats and feed the birds successfully. Luckily our cats are idle and as yet have not caught any birds that I've seen. Our bird feeder is in the trees near the back door so they all disappear when the door opens and if moggies emerge they at least know they're about.

The birds will soon be aware if a predator is around and will act accordingly. I think more birds will die of hunger this winter if they're not fed, than be caught by cats. If they're hungry they're so much more vulnerable to predators so I should feed as much as possible. If there isn't water around you'll need to provide that too.....

I feed the birds and I have a cat - the birds actually set up an alarm call the moment they see her - she has never caught one.

OK, have order the feeder pole....fingers crossed

One of my cats is a real killer - moles, snakes, rabbits, rats, spiders - you name it, she proudly brings it to me, but she doesn't do very well with birds and we have a lot in the garden during the summer due to a big plum tree.

So for the winter we have a very tall bird table in an exposed corner of our garden that I feel okay about putting food on. As long as you don't put down food on the ground near anything the cat can hide behind the birds should be okay - or at least I'm sure cold hungry birds will consider having to keep an eye open for a cat to be a small price to pay for a regular food supply.