how old does a cat need to be

[Marg0]

before they are not at risk (normally) from airborne predators (buzzard hawk kestrel) . Cat is regular domestic.

[LoftyLottie]

Would actually say it's how big should they be rather than how old they should be!

[Marg0]

hi lofty, yes I suppose that's right, I'm guessing most regular domestics are roughly all the same size before adulthood, the only major difference between being male/female.
I don't even know (sorry this is gory) about the whole bird/cat relationship. If a bird swoops does the cat try to flee or fight? A buzzard made a buzzard sound, my cat and kitten heard it and went mental.

[LoftyLottie]

To be honest I don't really know. I do know that all the cats I have ever known have been dive bombed by blackbirds, robins etc. when the fledgelings around and the cats have run for their life. I have never heard of a bird of prey taking a cat, but I would never let a tiny kitten out. Mine have always stayed in for the first six months of their lives anyway as they are less skittish as they get older and less likely to be killed on roads, etc. I suppose a bird of prey would take a tiny kitten, much as it would take a rat.

[whiffey]

You don't say where you live. In Croydon, a cat is at more risk from human curry-hunters on the estates than from buzzards or hawks or kestrels. Move out to Mitcham Common and it is a different story, although even there they hover less, which has been put down to depression.

[figure]

I once read Chinese and Japanese breed certain domestic animals and server them as exotic delicacies on their menu. So best keep pussy inside or watch her like a hawk whilst outside.

[Marg0]

Thanks all!
I checked out some of the offerings hanging in the windows in London's chinatown and did wonder a bit...

Here's Tom enjoying the sunshine. When I go out he follows me everywhere. There are buzzards, wood pigeons, crows and owls out tonight but he doesn't seem too bothered by them. He is huge for his age (just 6 months). Maybe has some scottish wildcat in him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?vUwLUvKmieyQ

tom

[good_egg]

I honestly dont think you've any cause for concern. Buzzards have all but forgotten how to hunt, and live almost entirely on carrion. Kestrels prey is mice/vole size. If you lived in the remote Scottish highlands then theres slightly more to worry about with the golden eagle. but i dont recall hearing of one in london, unless its escaped from the zoo.

[cherrycherry]

Japanese people never eat cats and never have done. Japanese menus at the high-range end of the restaurant scale sometimes include delicacies that western people would find strange, but the same goes for our own meals in Japan. Many Japanese people are disgusted at the thought of eating lamb. Sorry to digress a bit but I know lots of Japanese people who hate to be misunderstood with regards to their food, and they certainly do not eat cat meat. I hope your cat is safe...I had to fend away a suburban fox from a fluffy semi-Persian type cat recently and the cat would not have had a chance against the fox otherwise, as the cat was only half-grown.

[Waspette]

you have kittens coming out of your ears.

[LoftyLottie]

He's just beautiful! Thanks for posting that.