Pet cat on bird killing spree. Help!

[DrWu]

I know it's their nature and all that but our year old female cat is single handedly trying to wipe out the local population of small birds here. We quite like the little fellas and wondered if anyone had heard a a humane way to put the cats off their stride?

Thanks.

[paulz]

Most succesful way I've ever found is a bell on it's collar - though my smart moggy would try to muffle it by tucking her head over it! - get a big one!

[Cetti]

It's a difficult problem, but you can buy an ultrasonic cat deterrent fixed to a wall, that takes in the area of your garden (mains, not batterry is best) - or get a pump action machine gun ( for water!). Repeated blasts of water wetting their fur - eventually they'll get the message.

[KEJ2000]

Cats kept indoors all the time have a much longer life span (we're talking *years* longer) than cats who are allowed outdoors.... why not keep your cat inside? Animal shelters may give you a reduced price on declawing (because they want to protect the birds too), and of course veterinarians will do it.

[Squirrel]

And people say exercise is beneficial! We've been trying for years to stop our cat catching things and eating them, but this is something he simply does out of instinct, as well as the fact that he was a stray for several years and probably had to hunt for every meal. Your cat, though, is still young, and giving a small punishment whenever she brings you a "present" is meant to make her learn to cut it out. E.g. no attention, no food, locked in the house all day, telling off, squirted with water etc.

[doristwonk]

There is a Mr. Tony Martin somewhere in Lincolnshire who would be able to give you some very sound advice.

[brawburd]

Having the same problem myself, I would say you will probably need to learn to live with it. She will probably calm down a bit, she is still young as has been said. As for keeping indoors and declawing - if you were even to think about this I would say give her to a responsible owner and buy yourself a cuddly toy!

[brawburd]

KEJ2000, as a matter of interest are you American?

[Kit]

Our cats (with jingly collars etc) used to be on a 2-moggy killing spree, much to our distress. Nothing seemed to deter them - anything furry or feathery was fair game, including one mole, a pigeon, several frogs, next door's koi carp and half a baby rabbit. Somehow, the local wildlife outbred all attempts at extermination, and continued to thrive. Then suddenly terminal laziness set in, and now neither of them can be bothered to catch anything that moves faster than their food dish. This has led to some interesting sights, eg blackbird prancing all over our lawn, cat a few yards away watching it with indifference bordering on boredom...

[DrWu]

Many thanks for all the (mostly) helpful answers. On balance I'm thinking about arming the birds (damm.. no smiley winking emoticons here!)

[Phantaxus]

I would say that KEJ2000 is probably american. As I am pretty sure that declawing is illegal in the UK.

[KEJ2000]

Yes, I am American! Why is declawing illegal in Britain? I am baffled!

[FredPuli]

Kej2000 Of course declawing cats is illegal in the UK. It's illegal throughout Europe and in many other countries too. It is inhumane to do it. While we are on the topic of mutilation, in the US it is still legal to crop the ears of dogs. That was declared illegal in the UK a hundred years ago. Docking of dog's tails is not yet illegal but veterinarians are forbidden by their professional body from doing it. Perhaps you'll come around to our viewpoint eventually.

[mikewall01]

Declawing is now illegal in a number of American states. There's hope for them yet.

[KEJ2000]

The only argument I have ever heard against declawing is that the cat would be unable to defend itself against predators if it were outside. However, declawing is only done for cats who will not be allowed outside, ever, under any circumstances. Keeping a cat indoors protects it from being struck by cars, catching diseases such as rabies, and breeding with random cats. It is true that the average life span of indoor cats is several years longer than the avg. life span of cats that are allowed to roam outdoors. I don't see how you can compare declawing to practices such as cropping a dog's ears. The latter is obviously done for aesthetic reasons only, not for practical reasons. Of course cropping should be illegal. Declawing is performed as a surgery, with the cat under anesthesia and given antibiotics, proper wrapping of the paws, and follow-up care. It's only performed by licensed vets. Then the cat will have a much longer, and fully happy, indoor life. Would you also say that it's "inhumane" to spay or neuter your pet? I think not! Declawing is more comparable to the practice of spaying/neutering than it is to those purely aesthetic practices. Besides, isn't it "inhumane" when birds, chipmunks, moles, rabbits, frogs, etc. die slowly and painfully from bites from an outdoor cat?

[brawburd]

If you have any doubts about the problems of declawing cats, have a wee read: http://cats.about.com/cs/declawing/a/declawing.htm

[KEJ2000]

Well, my goodness. I don't even *have* a cat, and now I won't ever get one, because there is no good solution to the problem!!!!!

[Buffy]

DrWu, Why not buy your cat some toys made to resemble mice and birds? They would be sold at a pet shop. If your cat was able to while away the time "killing" the toys, I bet it would spend less time killing live animals outside. Even cats get tired of being on the hunt, or on the attack, after a time!

[Hails]

I have 3 cats and one of the toms is a particularly good hunter. I bought a huge bell which I hung round his neck, he sounded like a morris dancer and he hated it and somehow he managed to lose it! Although it is very sad when cats bring home birds etc it really is just part of their nature. Last year Socks even brought home a live baby pheasant, I say baby, it was actually quite big and I had to catch it in a tea towel and throw it into the field at the bottom of the garden! How he managed to drag it through the window I don't know! There wasn't a mark on it! The worst thing he has ever brought home was a dove which I desperately tried to save but couldn't. He looks so pleased with himself when he brings things home that I find it hard to punish him as it really is just instinct. Try a bell. Don't keep your cat in.