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Cat Forum / General Topics / January 2004bird predation
does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they work or not? > does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird > breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they work > or not? It probably depends on the cat but the bell didn't prevent my hunter from catching birds. Obviously I didn't encourage the birds (regardless of the season) from coming around my yard. No feeders, little windmills etc. It's sad and I used to freak when she caught anything..bunnies, mice, birds..etc.. But it's just nature. No one likes to see the croc eat the zebra or the lion kill the antelope on those nature channels but it's how nature works. Domestic animals are no different. AG > > does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird > > breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > AG except domestic animals/hunters are kept in artificially large numbers! > > > does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird > > > breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > except domestic animals/hunters are kept in artificially large numbers! If your intent is to admonish us cat owners about what they do to birds than you are in the wrong place. Anyone who seeks out an internet group about an animal is attempting to educate themselves to be responsible owners. I would bet 99% of the people in here have there cats altered and a good many keep them indoors. We aren't "keeping" them in large numbers..they are breeding in large numbers because others aren't spaying/neutering. We are just trying to provide those numbers with homes. Try going door to door or standing in front of a pet store handing out flyers about the cat population and the inherent problems. Better yet, answer those "free kitten" ads with a request that they spay and neuter. Your intent may be good but your direction is flawed. AG > > > > does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the > bird [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > AG my intent is good yes,my neighbour has 7 cats, none of which appear to wear collars,she is a local cats protection officer & I witnessed some 'kills' last breeding season,I would have thought she would be more educated than the rest of us about the predation on local birdlife (not to mention small mammals),I just intended to have a friendly word with her before spring about the possibility of her putting collars & bells on them. but wanted to know if they would be effective in reducing the number of kills. any common pets kept are in artificially high numbers,that's obvious. > > > does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird > > > breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > except domestic animals/hunters are kept in artificially large numbers! We also help birds that probably would not survive otherwise. I feed large quantities to bird seed, and I keep my cats indoors. It does bother me to see my neighbors' cats in my backyard for this reason, but I have watched and their "kill" seems to be limited. At least, I *hope* I do more to help the numerous birds I feed than I do by way of damage in creating a natural hunting ground for others' cats. MaryL > We also help birds that probably would not survive otherwise. I feed large > quantities to bird seed, and I keep my cats indoors. It does bother me to > see my neighbors' cats in my backyard for this reason, but I have watched > and their "kill" seems to be limited. At least, I *hope* I do more to help > the numerous birds I feed than I do by way of damage in creating a natural > hunting ground for others' cats. When I had my own little hunter I used to call those things cat feeders rather than bird feeders. Not much you can do about neighbors cats. AJ has a good idea, have a talk with your neighbors about collars with bells..although Nermal had one and could still walk silently. Might save one or two really quick birds. AG 29 Dec 2003: > When I had my own little hunter I used to call those things cat feeders > rather than bird feeders. Not much you can do about neighbors cats. > AJ has a good idea, have a talk with your neighbors about collars with > bells..although Nermal had one and could still walk silently. Might save > one or two really quick birds. I have bird feeders and they did start out partly to entertain my indoor cats (cat TV), besides I love watching them too. But I soon discovered that the bird feeders and lots of birds hanging around started attracting stray cats. I stopped feeding the birds and relocated the cats (they were adopted).  SignatureCheryl "I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." - Helen Keller > 29 Dec 2003: > [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > stray cats. I stopped feeding the birds and relocated the cats (they were > adopted). Fortunately, I have a fenced-in backyard (8 ft. cedar fence). That doesn't keep the cats out, but it does seem to reduce the population. I have several neighbors who simply let their cats roam, so I wouldn't have any idea who to talk to concerning specific cats. I have tried to make it difficult for the cats to get to the feeders. All of my feeders are either hanging very far down from tree branches or are mounted on poles with squirrel guards. As a result, the cats cannot reach the feeders. I have also planted liriope around the base of the pole-mounted feeders to make it difficult for cats to sneak up on birds. It seems to work pretty well. I feed huge quantities of birds, and I have only seen a couple of occasions when cats have been able to get to the ground-feeding birds. I'm sure there were other instances, but I think I help more birds than I hurt. I certainly hope so -- I would hate to think I am just creating a smorgasbord for neighborhood cats. MaryL > It probably depends on the cat but the bell didn't prevent my hunter > from catching birds. Obviously I didn't encourage the birds (regardless [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > zebra or the lion kill the antelope on those nature channels but it's how > nature works. Domestic animals are no different. *waves to AG* You are right. Though sometimes I think what we attribute to "nature" is more "necessity". I had a feral who was at least 10 years old, who I trapped, and ended up adopting. She was the most loving cat I have ever had, and the only one out of ten cats that I could allow into the office/dining room/kitchen where the birds were. (I did rescue for just about any kind of critter for many years). She never got into the food, or bothered the birds or mice. I had another cat, a seven-toed tortie (who was evil incarnate) who used to climb on the aquarium and scoop fish out with her 'hands'. She killed three breeding pairs of Lyre-tail Dalmatian mollies one day (just after I'd bought them). She'd never been outdoors, as she'd been raised as a pet shop's 'mascot' until my ex bought her. Queen, (the feral) however, never once lifted a paw to harm any of the smaller creatures in the house. She seemed to have a complete distaste for any "game" when she could have cream, and tuna instead. :) I personally have never seen the bells be to any real benefit. I have known cats that could move so stealthily, the bell never rang until they pounced, and by then it was too late for the poor mouse or bird. DeAnna Signature~Simply shave me arse to reply~ >I personally have never seen the bells be to any real benefit. I have known >cats that >could move so stealthily, the bell never rang until they pounced, and by then >it was too >late for the poor mouse or bird. A study in Australia showed that belled cats actually brought home more prey than did non-belled cats, possibly because people tend to put bells on cats that are already accomplished hunters.In any case, the bells had no effect on their prowess. | does anyone fit collars to their cats, with bells fitted during the bird | breeding season to deter bird killings,is there any evidence that they | work | or not? One of the neighbours' cats had that and it drove me crazy! It was part of the cat's tour to stroll past our house at nighttimes, the dog heard it and barked like mad, of course everybody woke up. I guess at night the birds didn't need warned anyway. I think it's dangerous for the cat; the bell lets every fox in the area know that it's around. Carola |
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