Cats Kill Birds
Jun 7th, 2007 by Birdy Trish
CATS KILL BIRDS
In the United States of America it has been suggested that, to stop them killing wild birds, cats should be kept inside all the time. They become domestic indoor cats. Could this happen in Britain?
What about cat owners? No one mentions cat owners who let their cats out, especially all through the night. Cats kill birds all year round. At this time of year it is easy for a cat to kill a fledgling bird. If a cat kills an adult bird at this time of year the dead bird had often been trying to bring up a family with its mate. It means the remaining bird ‘parent’ has a hard job to feed and look after the nest of young. So one cat killing one birds affects a family of birds.
I know people who admit their cat brings back dead birds. Some people think that if the bird is still alive and they make the cat drop the bird then that bird’s life is saved. This is not true. The bird will more than likely die – slowly.
If cats were kept inside it would stop the killings. It would be better for the cat as there would be less chance of the cat getting run over. Cat owners would have to get used to a cat prowling around the house all day and night. Dog owners have to keep their dogs under control. Why not cat owners? Cats take millions of birds in Britain every year. Is this right?
I live on a farm and our buildings, hedgerows are home to many bird’s nests - swallows, pigeons, magpies, owls, bluetits, wagtails, chaffinches, yellowhammers, sparrows, songthrushes, & blackbirds to name a few. However we also have 5 farm cats that we inherited. These cats live outside (which they always have done)and whilst I do feed them they still have an instinct to hunt and will kill birds more often than they kill rats. These cats are semi wild and would find it hard to adapt to an indoor life. Although humans have domesticated the cat to a certain extent I don’t think these animals are as easy to control as a dog. Would it be fair to keep cats inside all day, would we need to start taking our cats for walks on a lead? Whilst I do take the point that cats kill birds I also have to point out that so do other species of animals and indeed other birds. I currently have a problem with a growing population of magpies that are eating birds eggs and fledglings. The magpies will take the guinea fowl eggs on a daily basis and I have already lost ten bluetit fledglings. How can I control the actions of the wild magpies?
You have written an interesting article that is sure to stimulate a lively and interesting debate. I am not sure what the answer is. As both a cat and bird lover I am going to sit on the fence as I can see both sides of the debate.
Sara from farmingfriends
Hi
An interesting topic!
I think I heard that it is illegal to let your cats roam in Australia.
TopVeg
Hi,
Old post I know..but I’ve just spent the last couple of weeks spending my nights protecting my (endangered & uncommon in this part of the UK) Tree Sparrows from a new neighbour’s cat, so I’m fried & need to vent.
As it’s already taken most of the Dunnocks, the resident pair of Robins (leaving me to hand-rear a fledge)…several Tits…the male Blackbird, I see no reason to sit on the fence at all.
Feral cats are feral….leave them be. However, if you own a pet (& I’ve had cats, dogs, horses, chickens & a ferocious goat), you have an obligation to make sure that that pet is not causing misery with it’s serial killing antics. If you can’t do this then you have no right having a pet.
In other words….if guns were legal, I’d be wearing cat-fur slippers by now.
Unfortunately, this is not the case &, as most repellents are totally useless & talking to the owner is useless, I’ve been forced to take the following drastic action. Tomorrow night…I will be waiting for said cat & I will catch it, as I nearly did tonight. Then I’m going to take it to the local Animal Pound & ask for it to be re-homed.
Personally…I think we should all start doing this. Maybe, when their pets start disappearing, lazy & neglectful cat owners might actually start to take responsibility for their ecologically de-funked lumps of fur.
BW
Hi, It is so good of you to take time to save wild birds. I know you can’t just let the cat get them. Have made your comment into a post. Hope you don’t mind. I know a lot of people have problems with cats. I had the same problem as you. I saw the cat kill a fledgling and other birds. I was lucky in as much as the cat was a stray that latched onto us. In the end I sent it to the RSPCA.
Cat owners should be more responsible. Trouble is not everyone is interested in birds. I Also think some people think that it doesn’t matter if one or two birds are killed as there are plenty about ( I don’t think that of course). Thanks for getting in touch and for reading my diary. Trisha
I found that a good stiff corncob soaked in kerosene and rubbed on the cats rear very vigorously will get rid of the cat. No more cat killing birds in my area, the cats move on to somewhere else.
Hi Duhpo8, I have never ever heard of that before. Great if it works. I should think the difficult thing is to catch the cat first!
Glad you have a cat free garden and can enjoy the birdlife without worry. Trisha
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