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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / October 2004I'm cross
Livid even. Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any cats, because I love birdwatching. Boyfriend lost his posh tapestry collar the other day, the one he arrived here with, so I bought him a reflective one yesterday with a bell on as he fancies himself as quite a hunter of birds, I hoped it would give them a chance. It's pitch black here now, 9.50 p.m. and what was he just doing? He was in the kitchen holding the body of a wren, still warm. http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/wren.htm Aargh .<sob> Yes, I *know* cats eat birds, I don't like it, and that's why I didn't want any. I've picked the wren up a couple of times to warm it to see if it will come back to life. It isn't going to. It's so small that if I put it on my palm with it's tail by my thumb, it's long insecting eating beak doesn't reach to the bottom of my little finger. Boyfriend has gone out again. If he is starting to search roosts for birds at night for fun, I shall keep him in from evening until morning. He isn't hungry. I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Tweed > Livid even. > Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any cats, [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Tweed You have your work cut out for you. I'm sure it is possible to be both a bird lover and a cat lover, but 'I'd guess it won't be easy. We've been "fortunate" as the birds our cats have chosen as prey are by and large big enough to defend themselves. The Jay's "defend" themselves so well that I figure the cats deserve the occasional one they catch. Both of our present cats have a soft mouth and usually don't even injure what they catch. Every once in a while they will bring in a very indignant bird that I have to catch and release. Usually jay's, magpies and mockingbirds. When I was small, I referred to my grandmother's as the "birdie grandma" and the "kitty grandma". The birdie grandma had no use for cats and I could observe nests at her house from the time they were built to the eggs to the young birds taking flight. The kitty grandma lived on top of a mountain in West Virginia, and I suspect her cats hardly left a dent in the surrounding bird population. I'm quite sure their little house would have been overrun by rodents without the cats. And that there would have been no corn left to feed the chickens. Jo >> >> http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/wren.htm >> Yes, I *know* cats eat birds, I don't like it, and that's why I didn't >> want any. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > once in a while they will bring in a very indignant bird that I have to > catch and release. Usually jay's, magpies and mockingbirds. My two catch bigger birds, too but they don't have soft mouths at all, and always puncture the body cavity, which is bad news for birds. I tried once or twice with BF's first attempts at catching collared doves (ring-necked doves) - how strange you have to *buy* them in the USA, when they are all over the place here..- but they always died, so I've reluctantly had to harden my heart, and if I see them with a bird in their mouths that's still alive, I go somewhere else. > When I was small, I referred to my grandmother's as the "birdie grandma" > and [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > surrounding > bird population. To be honest, I don't suppose what my cats catch makes much difference either, as this is just such a beautiful habitat for birds. It certainly doesn't make a difference to the collared dove population. If I threw some wheat down in my orchard tomorrow, I could guarantee that 18+ would come down to feed, if not more. I'm quite sure their little house would have been overrun > by rodents without the cats. And that there would have been no corn left > to > feed the chickens. > > Jo I do find the cats' rodent catching useful, there are always rodents around when you have poultry. I'd like Boyfriend to graduate to rats. Kitty is a good rat-catcher, but she's better at the half-grown ones as she's so small. I have seen her on numerous occasions notice a huge grandfather type rat, probably weighing more than a pound, and decide she needs to groom herself very thoroughly. She's perfectly aware they have teeth like chisels and can eat through concrete. I don't blame her for saying Uh, uh..no way! Each smaller one she gets doesn't grow up to be a big one after all! I've a soft spot for mice, though. Unless the population got out of control, I'd be happy to have a few around (not in the house, though, down the garden (yard) ) Tweed >I do find the cats' rodent catching useful, there are always rodents around >when you have poultry. I'd like Boyfriend to graduate to rats. Kitty is a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >very thoroughly. She's perfectly aware they have teeth like chisels and can >eat through concrete. KFC is a pretty smart kitty LOL Way back when, back in the 60s, we had a cat bring home a California ground squirrel which was probably as big and he was. Course I wasn't around when the catch was made, but I know he had the devil of a time getting it over the 6 foot wood fence into the back yard. At the time, Mittens was just figuring out he was a cat instead of a daschund, since he was pretty much raised by our male daschund, Bobo. I figure Mittens was bringing the squirrel home to show his papa his catch. >I don't blame her for saying Uh, uh..no way! Each smaller one she gets >doesn't grow up to be a big one after all! [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Tweed  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html I'm sorry, Christina :o(. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although I do have plans to eventually build a cat enclosure on my patio -- was supposed to be a project this summer but other issues took monetary precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? Christine > Livid even. > Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any cats, [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Tweed > I'm sorry, Christina :o(. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders > out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? > Christine I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all mine, I might add) whenever they want. It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I know there can be rules in various states about not letting cats roam but *really* it's recognised here that "cats have a propensity to roam" and we aren't expected to keep them in. They are almost above the law. If I were to look outside right now, I bet in a minute or two I would see a cat crossing the (quiet) road. So I had to go and look, didn't I? I think there could well have been one but there was a chap coming along the road toileting his dog. 1.40 a.m. Boyfriend went out again, perhaps a little upset that I didn't praise him for his wren. I didn't tell him off, but he could tell I wasn't thrilled. So he came in a bit later with a mousie. Just a small one, and wondered if that was okay. I said it was. Now I have two bodies to deal with in the morning. This bell on his new collar works well, doesn't it? <sarcasm> Tweed off to bed > > I'm sorry, Christina :o(. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders > > out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > Tweed > off to bed The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. Even a warm body brought in isn't necessarily his kill. Since things are not likely to change, there is really not a lot of point in keeping your cat in if he really wants OUT. Birds and cats have co-existed in the UK for a long time and one little cat isn't likely to change the balance of things. Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing them home for praise. Jo > The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there > are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing > them home for praise. Nikki has learned that it's not a good idea to bring home birds. I'm pretty sure she does kill some every summer on the island, though. She just eats them somewhere else. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki > > The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there > > are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > pretty sure she does kill some every summer on the island, though. She > just eats them somewhere else. My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of 'catches' to find out that I really did not approve of him catching birds. A few weeks ago I heard a thud as a bird hit the conservatory window, and even as I stood up to investigate, Cav came running into the house doing his best 'Timmy's in the well' Lassie impression. I could swear he wanted me to know that he had NOTHING to do with the dead bird on the patio. Jeanette > My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of 'catches' to > find out that I really did not approve of him catching birds. A few weeks > ago I heard a thud as a bird hit the conservatory window, and even as I > stood up to investigate, Cav came running into the house doing his best > 'Timmy's in the well' Lassie impression. I could swear he wanted me to know > that he had NOTHING to do with the dead bird on the patio. LOL! The exact opposite of Frank's father, Panther, who came proudly bearing a blackbird to my sister. Since my sister had just seen the blackbird lying beneath a window after obviously have met its death by hitting said window, she didn't praise him (or scold him) for his 'catch'. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >> My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of 'catches' to >> find out that I really did not approve of him catching birds. A few weeks [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > blackbird lying beneath a window after obviously have met its death by > hitting said window, she didn't praise him (or scold him) for his 'catch'. Panther was "retrieving". >>> The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure > there [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Jeanette LOL!! >My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of 'catches' to >find out that I really did not approve of him catching birds. A few weeks [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Jeanette It's so easy to say, but this one really did have me chuckling out loud. Regards and Purrs, O J >> > The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure > there [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Jeanette This is *so* funny. I can just imagine him saying "Quick, come and see the dead bird that I didn't do, honestly, and you have to look right now or you won't believe me!" Bless his little cotton socks. Tweed > > My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of 'catches' > > to [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Tweed Ha! He does look like he's got cotton socks. He's so cute. And very, very vocal. He's one of those cats that try to imitate human speech. He's doing pretty well with 'hello'. He cracks me up, he's a little genius feline. My other cat is Ripley, who even in a normal feline household would be the dopy one. Cav tries to talk to him using all the vocal sounds he uses to communicate with me and Ade, but Ripley just stares at him in confusion. Jeanette >> > My 'new' cat, Cav, is very bright. It only took him a couple of > 'catches' [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > Jeanette Ripley is just academically challenged. Some cats are not bright, but have other talents. Others are like sparkling stars in the intelligence front. So, okay Ripley is not. Isn't he just a love bug, though? Tweed > > Ha! He does look like he's got cotton socks. He's so cute. And very, very > > vocal. He's one of those cats that try to imitate human speech. He's doing [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Tweed Of course. They both are, although Ripley is remarkably easy to startle. It's six and a half years now since he walked into our lives, and he's still nervous about sudden movements, feet and loud noises. Jeanette >>> Ha! He does look like he's got cotton socks. He's so cute. And very, > very [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Jeanette I'm convinced that that is more a personality thing. Grant has not had to worry a day in his life since he was 8 or so weeks old, but he is a nervous nelly about noises and feet, etc. Cav came running into the house doing his best > 'Timmy's in the well' Lassie impression. I could swear he wanted me to know > that he had NOTHING to do with the dead bird on the patio. LMAO!!!! What a fantastic turn of phrase! That *SO* sums up a cats innocent look! helen M -- >> The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure >> there [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > pretty sure she does kill some every summer on the island, though. She > just eats them somewhere else. I think that's what BF will do. I don't think he'll stop catching them, just stop bringing them home to show off. Tweed >>> I'm sorry, Christina :o(. I do love the birds, too, and have many > feeders [quoted text clipped - 43 lines] > > Jo We had a cat that kept bringing back the same mouse that my Dad kept throwing away until he told her waht a good kitty she was and Thank You. <big snippy> > We had a cat that kept bringing back the same mouse that my Dad kept > throwing away until he told her waht a good kitty she was and Thank You. <grin> The wren and little baby mousie are in the trash now. Boyfriend is out again. OMG, do you think he's trying to impress me?? Should I pretend to eat his catch, or would that just encourage him to bring more? Tweed ><grin> The wren and little baby mousie are in the trash now. Boyfriend is >out again. OMG, do you think he's trying to impress me?? Should I pretend >to eat his catch, or would that just encourage him to bring more? Could be BF read some of your earlier messages where you said he wasn't a great hunter and he wants toprove you wrong. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >><grin> The wren and little baby mousie are in the trash now. Boyfriend >>is [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Could be BF read some of your earlier messages where you said he > wasn't a great hunter and he wants toprove you wrong. LOL! He's returned without any prey, and is now asleep on one of the armchairs <phew> I expect him to stay there now until morning as he's usually still in when I get up as he wants his breakfast. Tweed > <big snippy> >> We had a cat that kept bringing back the same mouse that my Dad kept [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Tweed Hmmm. Don't know for sure! ---------------------<snip>---------------------- >Birds and cats have co-existed in the UK for a >long time and one little cat isn't likely to change the balance of things. >Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing >them home for praise. While mine are completely indoor cats, I have no problem with letting them roam if neighborhood conditions are right. They're just fine for cats to roam in my neighborhood, and my neighbor does just that. There's an interesting study on predation by domestic cats in the UK which points to an unfortunate exception to your remarks though. It's really quibbling as the exception occurred on an offshore island and was done by the lighthouse keeper's cat. The study titled "Predation of wildlife by domestic cats Felis catus in Great Britain" can be seen at: http://tinyurl.com/4zsaw and the relevant portion reads: >Most authors do agree, however, that wildlife on oceanic islands >is likely to be particularly susceptible to the impact of predation by > cats. A particularly well-known example is that of the Stephens > Island wren Xenicus lyalli, the entire population of which was > eliminated by a single cat belonging to the islands lighthouse > keeper (Oliver,1955). Regards and Purrs, O J "No nit too small to be picked" Gritmon > ---------------------<snip>---------------------- > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] >>eliminated by a single cat belonging to the island’s lighthouse >>keeper (Oliver,1955). That may be so, and I haven't made a scientific study of the birdlife on our summer island, but so far, we've had a total of eleven cats there every summer for the last 15+ years, and I can certainly not see any reduction in any species of bird. They seem just as plentiful as before. During this time, the swallows have started nesting near the houses again, after being away since before we started taking our cats there. That being said, I think Nikki and my sister's two cats, Ronja and Linus, are the only cats there who go after birds at all. The others would just as rather chase voles or flies. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >That may be so, and I haven't made a scientific study of the birdlife on >our summer island, but so far, we've had a total of eleven cats there [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >Linus, are the only cats there who go after birds at all. The others >would just as rather chase voles or flies. Your isalnd, Marina, isn't miles, and miles away from the mainland, so it's highly unlikely the cats would be wiping out the bird population, as the island is within easy flying distance from the mainland. Where an introduced species, be it cat or any other can have a detrimental effect on natives is when the island is *very* remote and the native population can't be replenished, or has become so specialised by many, many years of remoteness, that it can't cope with the pressures of introduced predators. Mind you, I do get concerned by the, apparent stance of some conservationists that what is there *now* has to be preserved at all costs. Nature has been changing for millenia. Species come and species go. We too, will be extinct one day. In the mean time, species do what species do, seek out niches in their environments in which they prosper. This is not to say conservation is bad, it's just I don't think it's as black & white an issue as some conservationists seem to think it is. After all, preserve one species, and you could be wiping out another, and who is to say which species deserves conservation any more than any other? Nature is dynamic. I could really, really wind up an ecology tutor I had at university ;-) Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- > Your isalnd, Marina, isn't miles, and miles away from the mainland, so it's > highly unlikely the cats would be wiping out the bird population, as the island > is within easy flying distance from the mainland. Well, maybe not easy flying distance (it takes about half an hour to go there with our speedboat), but I get your point. Furthermore, it's in an archipelago, so there are islands all along the way, so birds can definitely migrate from the mainland, if not directly to our island, then from island to island on the way. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki <some snippage throughout> > (although >> > I [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >> mine, I might add) whenever they want. >> It seems like a different culture in America. >>Tweed > The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure > there > are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. Yes, I guess there are. It's because I've set my garden up both through trees, shrubs with berries, nestboxes, cover, everything that birds like, that it seems I've set up a trap for them, they come to what seems to be an ideal place and get eaten by a cat. That's my problem, not that the cat got a bird, but that I might have caused it to happen. > Even a warm body brought in isn't necessarily his kill. Lol! Pretty good circumstantial evidence though ;-) >Since things are not likely to change, there is really not a lot of point in keeping your cat > in if he really wants OUT. It would be hard to do this anyway, as both like to toilet outside in earth and will ask, ask, ask, ask for me to open the door and not stop asking until the door is opened. > Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops > bringing > them home for praise. I think he *will* figure this out. I've never praised him for birds, I just take them away from him without comment. I praise him for rodents, especially rats. (one, to date) I've stopped trying with Kitty, and I excuse her as she used to have to get her own living. I've fed her twice a day for the last ten years and she still does it, so I guess I'm on a loser here. Tweed <snip> >Yes, I guess there are. It's because I've set my garden up both through >trees, shrubs with berries, nestboxes, cover, everything that birds like, >that it seems I've set up a trap for them, they come to what seems to be an >ideal place and get eaten by a cat. That's my problem, not that the cat got >a bird, but that I might have caused it to happen. <snip> Well, after reading that description, it's plain my suggestons about moving feeders around to find a safe spot won't work. It was fairly easy for me to buy metal poles for the feeders and stick them in the ground away from any cover for the kitties to hide in when hunting. Hopefully, BF will get the idea when he figures out that rats are praised and birds are frowned on. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I > wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all > mine, I might add) whenever they want. > It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in > the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I'd think that depends pretty much on where you are. If I lived in a rural area, I would probably let the cats roam at will (and when we are on the island in summer, I do; the door is open 24/7 there), but here in the city, I live in a block of flats amid heavy traffic. It would be neither practical nor safe to let the cats out on their own here. It would not be practical, because I live on the third floor, and there is no way for them to get in and out of here. Not safe because they don't understand that cars can be dangerous. When I take Nikki out on a leash, she would just dash across the road without looking if I let her. I must admit, I sometimes feel a bit silly walking my cat, but she loves it so much and I'm getting used to the exclamations of 'oh, it's a *cat*!' and the condescending smiles of the d*g walkers. ;o) I've never seen anyone else walking their cat around here. I know there are others, because they post on the Finnish cat ng about it, and both my nieces and my sister walk their cats. I think it's increasing. When I was a child, all our cats were indoor/outdoor, and they were allowed to roam freely. Of course, traffic has increased exponentially here in Helsinki since then. With the way people drive these days, I just wouldn't dare let them go out by themselves. SignatureMarina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >I'd think that depends pretty much on where you are. If I lived in a >rural area, I would probably let the cats roam at will (and when we are [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] >here in Helsinki since then. With the way people drive these days, I >just wouldn't dare let them go out by themselves. There's also the problem, at least with my LB, that in some circumstances they forget the trafic hazards. When LB first moved in I thought she was street wise enough to avoid cars. She had been a stray, and I had seen her run from cars when she was 10 yards away from the road. Then came a day she came out to greet me where I was parked on the street. She spotted a squirrel across the street and took off in pursuit without the slightest hesitation, despite the fact there was a car coming down the road. Luckily the driver had stopped at a stop sign and was still going slow, and slammed on the brakes when LB darted out from behind my truck. That was the day I stopped letting her stay out while I was at work. Now she only gets to go out supervised. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell" <snip> >I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few >years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I've been feeding the birds much longer than the cats, and went almost stopped feeding the cats. Instead, I moved the feeders around until I found a spot where the cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but don't know who killed it. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell" > <snip> [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but > don't know who killed it. Actually, feeding the birds also has attracted strays to my yard (i.e., Tucker, Robin, Pirate and others) but what has helped keep down the casualties is also what Steve has suggested here and I also started using more suet cakes so there aren't so many birds actually on the ground. What also attracted the strays to my yard (besides my "sucker" label) is that mice came around also for the birdseed; I've tried to be more careful to limit the seed on the ground. Christine ---------------------<snip>---------------------- > What >also attracted the strays to my yard (besides my "sucker" label) is that >mice came around also for the birdseed; I've tried to be more careful to >limit the seed on the ground. > >Christine Aha!! The old mouse ranching scheme rears its head once again. Regards and Purrs, O J > ---------------------<snip>---------------------- > > What [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Regards and Purrs, > O J ROTFLMAO!!! Hugs, CatNipped >I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few >years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( > >Tweed This is so weird. I keep reading about other people's cats catching birds. OUt of these four, the *Only* bird I've ever seen them catch is, Yoda caught a Blue Jay about eight years ago. Are they just really inept hunters? I don't want them to catch birds, but it's just odd. I also read about people complaining that outdoor cats reduce the songbird population. Not here for sure. Bootie is a real gopher-girl, but even she has never caught a bird. Sherry >> I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few >> years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Bootie is a real gopher-girl, but even she has never caught a bird. > Sherry We had a lot of indoor outdoor cats when I was growing up, and only a couple of them were hunters. Even then, we got far more grasshoppers brought to us than birds. I can only remember one or two birds. Several mousies. But overall, since they ate regularly they didn't bother. They mostly enjoyed watching. I will say our cat Dimples, who I referred to earlier, probably did hunt and eat birds her whole life. But she sure never brought them up to the house if she did. It really, I believe, depends on how strong the urge is. Definitely as they got older and figured out they didn't have to, they didn't do it. I suspect Boyfriend will grow out of getting the birds when he figures out Tweed doesn't like it, and he has regular meals. > >I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few > >years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Bootie is a real gopher-girl, but even she has never caught a bird. > Sherry I think it depends on the cat and the birds. My son's cat has almost wiped out the sparrow population on their block, but I once had one that was only *preyed upon* by jays. Hugs, CatNipped >This is so weird. I keep reading about other people's cats catching birds. OUt >of these four, the *Only* bird I've ever seen them catch is, Yoda caught a Blue >Jay about eight years ago. Are they just really inept hunters? I don't want >them to catch birds, but it's just odd. I also read about people complaining >that outdoor cats reduce the songbird population. Not here for sure. >Bootie is a real gopher-girl, but even she has never caught a bird. I think to catch birds they have to really be talented hunters, usually they have to betaught as youngsters, by their mama. Sammy is a self taught grasshopper hunter, but doesn't act like she knows birds can be prey, maybe because she knows she gets in trouble if she acts too interested in the cockatiels in their cage. LB is a terrible hunter who didn't even chase 'hoppers until Sammy started. When we go in the OUT, they watch the birds intently, and maybe even try to sneak up on them. Sammy could have caught a pigeon one time, since it landed on the patio a couple feet from where she was sitting, but it scared her and she just ran inside. OTOH Rocky is an expert birder. Back before I found the right location for the feeders Rocky was one of the cats which had me thinking about stopping feeding the cat strays. Seems like every other day he would catch a bird, and when he did he ate them without any playing around. So I was happy when I found the right spot for the feeders. He's retired from hunting now. Last fall he caught two blue jays at once, but let them go, or they got away while he was deciding which one to eat. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >OTOH Rocky is an expert birder. Back >before I found the right location for the feeders Rocky was one of the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >he caught two blue jays at once, but let them go, or they got away >while he was deciding which one to eat. Guess it's probably a good thing for another reason that our cats are crummy bird-hunters, and that Rocky has retired, since bird-eating can be pretty unhealthy for them. Sherry > Livid even. > Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Tweed I'm sorry to hear that, Tweed. I had become rather complacent before I got Bagheera, Snoopy hadn't caught anything for twelve years. Baggy catches more, about three weeks ago I was very upset when he caught a Goldcrest, this was only the second one I'd ever seen. Not the cats fault, but last night a Greenfinch flew into the window with such force I was surprised it didn't break, the poor thing was stunned so I put him in a box overnight hoping he'd recover. He must have been brain damaged as he died this morning. I'm still feeling sad about that. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. >> Livid even. >> Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > in a box overnight hoping he'd recover. He must have been brain damaged > as he died this morning. I'm still feeling sad about that. The house I grew up in has a porch with BIG glass windows. I remember that my mom stopped cleaning them when I was little because birds would fly into them and stun themselves. We were usually quite lucky and if we propped them up on the roof or the car roof, they would recover and fly away, but mom had enough and just let the windows stay spotty with rain residue etc. I can't even remember the last time a bird flew into them. So it seems to work! As well as the bell on the collar - put a small ID tag (metal) nest to it. Makes for a bit of extra noise when the cat pounces and can be the difference between bird getting away or being a snack. This works well on my three - they get hardly any birds but concentrate on small rodents (who must be deaf....) Also - I do keep the cats in from dusk to dawn as during dusk & dawn is where much feeding goes on by the birds. *Important* - do *not* get angry at the cat as and when he brings you a bird. I praise my three and that way, I've found I can get them to happily give me any prey and quite a few of the few birds they have caught and given me have subsequently recovered and got a second chance at life. I've also invested in a small budgie cage which I use as my "rescue cage" for birds, and a small clear box I use as same for small rodents. I feed the birds year round in my garden, so have lots of visitors, bear in mind that there's been far more birds destroyed by loss of habitat than cats get. The main predator is *us*, not cats. Also - your local bird population will become adept at keeping out of the way of the cat. At the front of my house I have hanging basket brackets. During the summer these have hanging baskets of flowers on them. In the colder months I have nut & seed feeders hanging off them. I can get blue tits, great tits, robins, greenfinches, chaffinches etc., feeding off them, *inches* away from the cat - the birds can see the cat - it just happens the cat is behind the glass of the window sitting on the window sill. Those birds *know* the cat is there. Yet if the cat steps paw outside where the birds can see it, the birds fly off. The birds are not stupid ;-) And a magpie is a far more vicious and wanton killer of small birds than many a cat... I've seen magpies at work killing small birds - wanton - they kill the chicks and leave - clean out an entire nest - and don't eat what they've killed. Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- > As well as the bell on the collar - put a small ID tag (metal) nest to it. > Makes for a bit of extra noise when the cat pounces and can be the [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > get hardly any birds but concentrate on small rodents (who must be > deaf....) I'll give it a try, thank you for the suggestion. > Also - I do keep the cats in from dusk to dawn as during dusk & dawn is > where > much feeding goes on by the birds. I know, but they scream to go out, so I only do this in the baby bird season. > *Important* - do *not* get angry at the cat as and when he brings you a > bird. <slightly hurt> I didn't. I never get angry with them. The worst thing is do is say with emphasis on the first word "Get off the table." They do. I don't like them on the table and worktops with their muddy feet. > praise my three and that way, I've found I can get them to happily give me > any [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > clear > box I use as same for small rodents. I can get them to give me their prey, but there's absolutely no chance it will recover after either Kitty FC or Boyfriend have had it in their mouths. > I feed the birds year round in my garden, so have lots of visitors, bear > in [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > population > will become adept at keeping out of the way of the cat. I completely agree that loss of habitat is the main cause of bird decline in the UK. However, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is now saying that as cats have now become number 1 pet here - mainly because of lifestyle, that we all need to work - that they are having a significant impact on wild birds. > At the front of my house I have hanging basket brackets. During the summer > these have hanging baskets of flowers on them. In the colder months I have [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > The > birds are not stupid ;-) Some of them are bright enough, but some end up down the cat's throat. > And a magpie is a far more vicious and wanton killer of small birds than > many a > cat... I've seen magpies at work killing small birds - wanton - they kill > the > chicks and leave - clean out an entire nest - and don't eat what they've > killed. I totally agree. I hate to see magpies systematically searching the hedges for nests and then eating the eggs/young. One took all "my" baby blackbirds this year. Now, if only I could have a gun.. Although perhaps better not..I probably can't yet see well enough to shoot. Tweed ><slightly hurt> I didn't. I never get angry with them. The worst thing is >do is say with emphasis on the first word "Get off the table." They do. I >don't like them on the table and worktops with their muddy feet. oops, didn't mean to offend. It was a more a sort of reference point than a "Bad girl! Don't shout at the cat!" :-) >However, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is now >saying that as cats have now become number 1 pet here - mainly because of >lifestyle, that we all need to work - that they are having a significant >impact on wild birds. The RSPB has many a member who is a cat hater... publicly, I've come across a few in conversation :-(. Whilst I respect the work of the RSPB, I don't think they are entirely bias-free in what their publicity says. Just my 2p worth :-) >Some of them are bright enough, but some end up down the cat's throat. Yup - can't stop a cat being a cat. But by feeding lots of birds, you are entirely possibly saving more than a cat kills by providing food for them which gets them through the cold winter days and nights. The biggest killer is loss of habitat, and it's not the cats doing that, it's we humans. Should we shoot the farmers? ;-) Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- >><slightly hurt> I didn't. I never get angry with them. The worst thing is >>do is say with emphasis on the first word "Get off the table." They do. I [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] >of habitat, and it's not the cats doing that, it's we humans. Should we shoot >the farmers? ;-) I realize this doesn't exactly have anything to do with the thread, but this post reminded me of a thread a while back. Remember when a group of bird watchers, in the UK IIRC, had gathered to view an American Robin that had somehow made it across the pond. Just as everyone was set to view the robin and take a few pix a hawk swooped down and had it for lunch. SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >I realize this doesn't exactly have anything to do with the thread, >but this post reminded me of a thread a while back. Remember when a >group of bird watchers, in the UK IIRC, had gathered to view an >American Robin that had somehow made it across the pond. Just as >everyone was set to view the robin and take a few pix a hawk swooped >down and had it for lunch. I remember that one! With my warped sense of humour I fell about laughing at the thought of all those twitchers eagerly looking through their bins, only to see the object of their adoration caught for lunch by another of our feathered friends ;-) Mind you, it does illustrate the point that many a bird is a prey species to more than cats. Cheers, helen s --This is an invalid email address to avoid spam-- to get correct one remove fame & fortune h*$el*$$e*nd**$o$ts**i*$*$m*m$o*n*s@$*a$o*l.c**$om$ --Due to financial crisis the light at the end of the tunnel is switched off-- >> <slightly hurt> I didn't. I never get angry with them. The worst >> thing is do is say with emphasis on the first word "Get off the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > biggest killer is loss of habitat, and it's not the cats doing that, > it's we humans. Should we shoot the farmers? ;-) Also feeding birds means there are more pairs of eyes to spot the predator and raise the alarm. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. > Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any cats, We overcame that problem by keeping the cats indoors. :) SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com |
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