I have inside/outside cats. is there ne way to put up a bird feeder w/o turning the visiting birds into prey?
Question:
Answers:
Using a shepards hook may or may not work. Cats can jump really high from a sitting position.
The Audobon Society asks that all cat lovers keep their cats indoors for this very reason. Cats "LOVE" to catch birds.
Birds and Cats - The Cats Indoors! Campaign
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/
.........
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...
All Things Considered, January 5, 2007 ยท It's possible that the number one killer of American birds is a much-beloved, domestic pet.
Experts say outdoor cats may kill hundreds of millions of wild birds each year -- but they aren't exactly sure how many.
.........
.....Don't get me wrong....
we have 5 dogs and 2 cats, but our cats are spayed and they are indoor cats.
Your choices a limited. Put the feeders out, then the cat's get the bird's. Keep the cats inside and leave the feeders for the birds.
You might get a shepherd's hook to hang the feeder on, that way it would be too narrow for the kitties to climb it...however, I'm not sure what would stop the birds from eating the feed off the ground.
Cats are the biggest killer of birds in a domestic garden situation. If you have a floor standing bird table, place a circle of clematis netting around it (the thick, durable plastic type), small birds can enter, and Cats cannot. If you have a good sized tree, throw a rope over a high branch, and pull the feeder up high (like raising a flag up a pole). Place feeders near dense hedges or shrubs, birds dislike open spaces without escape routes.
The bird houses that stand on top of a pole are the best in my opinion, although you have to use a ladder to refill them. You can also squirrel-proof those. Well, nothing is ever squirrel proof in my book but you can at least make it difficult for them. The feeders that stand on a shepherds hook work well too and you can move them around your yard to see what works best. The key to keep birds that feed on the ground safe is placing the feeder away from shrubbery where cats can lay in wait. Also, songbirds like berry bushes if you can plant those. They always loved my holly bushes but the cats didn't because of their spiny leaves. However, holly can be a real pain and require a lot of pruning.
Female cats are stealthy hunters and despite my efforts, they always manage to bring me back a gift once in a while. That's survival of the fittest.
More Related Questions & Answers...