The owl, the pussycat and the seagulls

[NomDePrune]

A neighbour near us feeds pigeons and seagulls, which as you can imagine creates mess and they nest here, also tear open rubbish and spread it around (the birds not the neighbour).
I've given up trying to reason with her and decided that scaring the birds away might work. So I'm looking at one of those fake falcons or owls BUT what about cats? Will my cat just not go outside? Are all cats instinctively nervous around big birds? Anyone got a cat and a fake falcon?
[Cat pic coming up]

I wouldn't get a cat to scare off seagulls as they might end up taking your cat.

Try informing your council as there might be a bylaw they can enforce.

@Pixiedust1234 🤣🤣 OP has a cat she is scared if she buys a fake falcon or owl her cat might not go outside 🙂

OP cats are pretty astute, you won't fool your cat with a big fake bird 🙂

Your cat rather than being scared is more likely to spoil the effect of the fake bird of prey by using it as a vantage point 😁

Cats are very smart in some ways and have a fantastic sense of smell, they will know it isn't a real live bird.

I am a cat owner and also had a problem with Seagulls walking into the house when the back door was open ( they are very bold). My cats weren't bothered by them, so I bought a fake owl deterrent.
Neither cats nor Gulls took any notice of that either, infact the gulls used to peck the owl head to make it wobble.
A fly screen keeps them out of the house, but cats and gulls still share the garden. I just make sure food and trash is kept out of sight now.

That's really good to know, DonkeyOatie. I think I'll go for a falcon type that I can hang from the washing line pole. And maybe introduce it to the cat indoors at first

Here he is

Your local council can tell your neighbour to stop feeding them. My stepdad got told and quite rightly so!

Our local council fly a Peregrine falcon through the station a couple of times a year to deter seagulls and pigeons

Apparently it's the only bird of prey that seagulls are frightened of

I looked on council website and they won't do anything as it's on her own property (and her neighbours flat roof)
Where I work we have a Hawk Man round to try to stop them breeding on the roof - doesn't work as he can't fly the bird and only appears weekly.

oh good grief 🙄😂