How can I stop magpies from bullying my cat?

[AngryGreasedSantaCatcus]

For some unknown reason (no remains or feathers around) one of the magpies living in the tree overlooking our garden has taken a dislike to our cat.

As soon as he's out , it swoops in, follows him, screams at him and aggressively flies at him.

He's miserable and does these really pitiful cries and runs back inside. Makes no attempts at fighting back .

The noise is driving us up the bend too as it's right outside our window and the magpie keeps going until the cat is out of sight. It also doesn't give two fucks if we're outside with him.

Any suggestions?

What could you do except keep the cat in?

Water pistol and practice your aim?
Its likely she has a young in a nest nearby so is just trying to keep your cat away. I think you just have to wait it out. 26-30 days until they fledge!
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/bird-a-z/magpie/life-cycle/#:~:text=The%20young%20birds%20stay%20in,to%20form%20large%20winter%20roosts.

Oz, so months are out but it’s not just a U.K. issue.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jun/28/when-magpies-attack-the-swooping-dive-bombing-menace-and-how-to-avoid-them

We had nesting magpies in a tree right next to my garden. My cat used to climb it daily and piss them off - they do make a terrible din!

Oddly, two years later they seem to be on good terms. They were just chilling next to each other on my patio the other day.

I think for now I’d shoot the magpies with water too.

Agree that there is probably a nest. It will calm down in a few weeks.

I was hoping people would have some helpful suggestions to scare the magpie away/stop it from attacking the cat. If there aren't any that's fine ,but I don't think it's unreasonable to ask.

He doesn't go anywhere near the tree or climb in it. He's just there having a drink or rolling in the grass. I did think about nesting, but it's the first year they're being this aggressive and we have them every year.

Won't a water gun harm them(massively overestimating my aiming skills)?

I’ve not seen my cat being harassed by magpies, but he’s certainly wary of them. There’s no swishing tail or strangled meow, like when he spots other birds out of the window. He just watches them fixedly until they go away.

My cat did something to piss magpies off too.
They regularly had stand offs, my cat would sit on the window sill on the inside the magpies on the outside all of them making a god awful racket.

We had to wait it out. It stopped after the summer.

Can you put a parasol up? If it disturbs their field of vision they might leave him be

I suspect they feel threatened by your cat's presence and are trying to scare him before he attacks them.

Not much you can do except either use a water pistol or just wait it out. It won't be forever.

What did your cat do to the magpies? They're probably nesting but we had a little sod who murdered a baby magpie. For months afterwards the parents dive bombed him every time he left the house. They pulled tufts of his fur out, screamed in his face and generally stalked him. Completely ignored the other cats and let them go about their business but made his life hell. I let them get on with it because he murdered their child.

Have you tried raising your cat’s self esteem?
tell him he’s stronger than a magpie
he’s the predator and they are the prey
or let him practice on smaller stuffed magpies until he feels more confident around them
😆

Nothing like that. I looked .

I'll get a water gun and try the parasol, but because of the position of everything I doubt it will be enough to hide him.

Dumbass could at least fight back, they might leave him alone then.

We had this, it was a gang of maggies and they would swoop-bomb down on the cat one after the other in a continuous attack…it lasted all summer and a bit in the following year when the magpies moved on. Evening times were a bit safer for the cat if that’s any help x

Don't shoot it with a water pistol, poor thing is just protecting it's babies.
I'd go with the parasol and see if that helps, if not just ride it out, it won't be that long.

Look at that pitiful face .

Hero Magpie is taking revenge on behalf of all the poor blackbirds etc that have been senselessly murdered by cats.

Limited sympathy for your moggy, sorry.

He's not wearing a shiny/reflective collar is he? I can't see a collar in the pic, but if he is then it could be that.

Pitiful (and very cute) face but a cold hearted killer 😼🔪🩸 🪶💀

We gave up on him having a collar as he kept losing them, and I was worried about them malfunctioning and him strangling or hurting himself , especially after finding a few in hedges.

We just went through this with nesting blackbirds. Once the baby’s fledge they will move on. There’s nothing you can do. Even water gun isn’t going to make them abandon their young and if so that’s just cruel.

Don't shoot it with a water pistol, poor thing is just protecting it's babies.

Yes, and op’s trying to protect her ‘baby’!! We’re not talking about a power washer. I doubt a water pistol’s going to traumatise a magpie. Might put them off a bit, though.

Parasol is an excellent idea. Bistro table and chairs? Deck chairs?

Right now, magpies are raising chicks and are very protective!

Please don't use a water pistol, this is a really unkind suggestion. These are just wild birds doing what they need to do, eg defend their nest. Using a water pistol will distress them further, they may end up abandoning the nest and potentially any baby birds in it. It sounds a bit stressful for the cat, but the cat will be able to take care of its self, it will probably learn just to keep out of their way for a bit.