Magpies | Mumsnet

TenderChicken · 08/08/2025 13:13

My cat is 14 and hasn't hunted for a couple years now. I think of your cat is still physically fit enough to hunt, surely he is fit enough to take himself inside if being harassed by magpies.

Original poster

Dilbertian · 08/08/2025 14:36

I don't want them to harass him!

OP posts:

TroysMammy · 08/08/2025 20:21

My neighbour sent me a video of Haribo on her fence with the magpies trying to peck his bum.

They do harass cats especially if the cat has killed one of their own. They don't let up, they are relentless. Awful birds.

Overtheatlantic · 09/08/2025 05:42

This may sound odd but I’ve reached a strange settlement with my magpies whereby I feed them and they leave my cat alone. It first happened accidentally when I was feeding her on the patio, which is where she likes to eat in summer. Now, I put her food down and then put a few peanuts on top of the bin storage unit and they keep very quiet and then descend from the tree and take their breakfast. I’m not sure if I’ve trained them or if they’ve trained me but they quietly hang out in the tree, eat their peanuts and leave her alone.

Overtheatlantic · 09/08/2025 05:45

This arrangement has been going on since last summer.

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 09/08/2025 06:12

Overtheatlantic · 09/08/2025 05:42

This may sound odd but I’ve reached a strange settlement with my magpies whereby I feed them and they leave my cat alone. It first happened accidentally when I was feeding her on the patio, which is where she likes to eat in summer. Now, I put her food down and then put a few peanuts on top of the bin storage unit and they keep very quiet and then descend from the tree and take their breakfast. I’m not sure if I’ve trained them or if they’ve trained me but they quietly hang out in the tree, eat their peanuts and leave her alone.

Edited

I would say they’ve trained you, you’re actively doing something for them , they actively aren’t doing something to your cat (unless you step out of line!).

thebraveryofbeingoutofrange · 09/08/2025 06:13

Dilbertian · 08/08/2025 09:09

Magpies have been making a noise in the trees around my garden when MrCat is outside. Just now one swooped down a couple of feet above his head as he padded across the grass, minding his own business. MrCat was spooked, ducking down as he walked and pointing his ears back.

The magpie did not harm MrCat, but I'm worried that they might in the future. I've seen them attacking red kites in the air, and they have attacked and destroyed house martin nests on my house (the house martins and swallows never returned 😢).

MrCat is 14 and getting a little stiff, though he still hunts at ground level.

How can I protect him? Magpies are intelligent birds that can identify and remember a threat. I'm concerned that if I get, say, a supersoaker and fire it at them, they will then attack me when I'm in the garden 'unarmed'.

Beautiful cat ❤️ and poor house martins 😨