I wonder what effect a bowl of cat food might have.
Not a long-term solution. As anyone who as ever lived with cats knows, they don’t stay fed.
it may be annoying, but the cat’s just being a cat. I’m not a cat person, but you’re seeing nature do what it does.
Any kind of catcher possible with the feeder?
Im guessing its food dropping on the ground that causes them to be pecking around under it.
But overall I agree with animal handling.
Otara
I wish I had your problem just so I could have a reason to buy one of these bad boys: the Scarecrow Motion Activated Sprinkler. User reviews on amazon are positive.
Or you could use the Ssscat Cat!
I see the problem. But he just needs time to get to know you. Sit outside and talk to him, and leave him food, and soon he won’t be so jittery. When you can finally pick him up, get him to the vet for initial shots and a checkup, and then bring him inside. With regular care and affection, he will turn out just fine.
I’d go with trap and euthanise. Although Spectre of Pithecanthropus offers that NA has bobcats, I’d think their preferred prey and also hunting areas would not coincide with a feral cat. The fewer non-natives and strays, the better.
I don’t think any of them are anywhere near endangered (blue jays and most cardinal species are rated “least concern” on the population scale, which is a best rating a species can get. And the vast majority of endangered dove species live on tropical islands.), so I’m not really seeing the problem with stupid birds being picked off by a hungry cat being any worse than it eating mice and other rodents.
I object to the definition of house cats being “not native”. Cats as a species have evolved to live alongside humans; wherever civilization is, that’s their natural habitat. I know many people don’t think of “humanity” as an environment, but it meets the definition of the term. We’ve altered so much of this planet that it isn’t surprising that some of it has altered itself to be compatible with us.
Now, if cats were wandering the forests or mountains, we’d have cause to worry. But your yard is neither - it’s a distinctly human ecosystem, and cats have more of a right to be there than bluejays or cardinals.
20 gauge, Wal-Mart, $80. They are a nonnative species killing off our song birds. Get rid of them.
The OP prefers the birds to the cats in his yard. Doesn’t matter who created the ecosystem, the OP wants the birds to not be dead. By your logic, cockroaches, rats, and stray dogs also have the right to run wild because they have adapted to humans.
Also, some posters have suggested that animal control will come out and empty the trap for you. I have never lived in an area where this is done. I’m not saying that none will, but I haven’t found one. That is why I take the cats to somewhere remote and dump them. Not all cats can be tamed after they have been feral, and will be gassed at animal control anyway if they can’t be tamed. So take them and dump them on your way to work.
SSG (P) Schwartz
I’m not saying that - if he doesn’t want cats in his yard, he should get rid of them. It’s his yard, after all. I was simply objecting to the claims that cats were a non-native, invasive species.
Emphasis added. The OP has already stated they’re not going down this road.
At any rate, while this is a viable option in some areas, in most urban settings ( where the great majority of us live ) it generally is not. Most town and cities have laws forbidding/sharply restricting the discharge of firearms within city limits. In some I believe this even extends all they way down to air guns.
A few years ago, my neighbor created a Bird Spa, complete with 5 feeders and two bird baths, including one that is heated. I kid you not. Since then, we’ve noticed a dramatic increase in homeless cats. We took one sweet kitten who was hanging underneath our deck to the SPCA this past spring because he was starving and freezing to death.
I have to say that I wish my neighbor would dismantle his bird spa because it’s not only drawing tons of birds who show their gratitude by crapping on our cars, but lots of predators as well. If it’s not the cats, it’s the Cooper’s Hawks.
One day this summer, my daughter and I were eating lunch and within 15 minutes personally witnessed two different hawks take out three different birds, who’d been enjoying their day at the spa right before being ripped apart by the hawks. Talk about a ruined lunch. Now my daughter calls the bird spa “Birdy Auschwitz.”
Where you draw easy prey, you will get predators. Such is the circle of life.
Why would people (who presumably like cats) object to that solution? Because the animal may be euthanized? At least this way it’s got a chance, if a small one, at being adopted out and getting a better life.
I finally opened this thread, and this was my first thought. The cat has discovered a place where s/he can find prey. The birds have found that they can get food in the OP’s yard, and the cat has found this as well. It’s POSSIBLE that the cat will be happy to eat a bowl of cat food each day, in preference to going after the birds. However, some cats, perhaps many cats, enjoy hunting, so just providing food for the cat might not work. Plus, if you provide cat food, then other stray cats might well find it.
I suppose that an odor deterrent or something like the Ssssscat might work, but basically the OP has provided an attractive situation for cats as well as birds.
Quit attracting birds to your backyard and the cat will leave as well.
Now, now, there’s nothing wrong with a little chumming…
Do you have neighbors? If so, have you mentioned this to them? It’s possible that either
A) It’s someone’s cat, and they’ll be willing to solve the problem for you. If they’re not, let them know that you’re seriously considering trapping it - that should make them take interest.
B) It’s a stray but is beloved by someone who might consider keeping it if they know it might be “taken care of” otherwise.
C) It’s as much a nuisance to everyone else, and you can coordinate your efforts to capture/eliminate/scare off the cat.
I’m with those who think we should let nature take its course. Cats were brought here by humans because of their prowess at hunting vermin on ships. I love all animals and I put out bird seed and peanuts for the squirrels; evenings I put out some meat and fruit for our neighbor opossum. I love reptiles - snakes we have aplenty (including rattle snakes). Snakes rid us of mice and rats (and squirrels and birds) – it’s called the food chain. My philosophy is “live and let live.” I also have three neighbors’ cats visit. Hubby (a cat person also) started feeding them so now they come around every day. Yeah, the doves are not too bright; I’ve gone out back and seen a bunch of dove feathers so I figured one of the cats was taking them down. (Occasionally see a bunch of blue jay feathers also.) But that’s not every day, or even every week. As someone noted, there are other predators – we have red-shouldered hawks and I’ve seen one chase after a small bird. Okay, so I’m not answering the OP’s query; OP, try some of the suggestions here, but I think you’re overreacting. Also, note Wheresmymind’s post - if you know to whom the cats belong, start there, although some people are convinced that cats should be outdoors. If the owners won’t keep them indoors, tell them you’ll call animal control to come get them.