Bird feeder and a cat

RebelButtMunch · 07-01-2019 11:05am #1

Hi
I love feeding the birds but I've just inherited a kitten. What's the best option for feeding the birds without laying a trap for them?

From what I can see online it's a kind of bird house ontop of a pole that the cat can't climb?

OpenYourEyes · 07-01-2019 11:38am

The first thing is to make sure any feeders are high up enough that a cat can't reach - and keep in mind they can jump higher than you think. Second of all make sure that no seed etc is spilling onto the ground, because that's where the cat will most likely get them. So some sort of bird table, or table/tray etc underneath hanging feeders is the best option.

You're obviously aware of it, but it's worth stressing how completely disastrous cats are for garden birds. Even by doing your best you'll still probably lose some birds to this new cat.

magicbastarder · 07-01-2019 11:39am

have you the option of keeping the kitten as a house cat?

RebelButtMunch · 07-01-2019 12:12pm

magicbastarder wrote: »

have you the option of keeping the kitten as a house cat?

Not really, it's out and about during the evening. It's mostly in the house though when we are there.

Mickeroo · 07-01-2019 12:19pm

There's a lot cats in our estate and one or two are regular visitors to our back garden. Strangely enough they pay absolutely no heed to the bird feeders at all.

New Home · 07-01-2019 5:28pm

A quick-release collar with a bell would help, too. But if the cat is outdoors only in the evenings, by then the feeders would be practically bird-free, as they'd have all retired for the night.

Juliet799 · 10-10-2020 1:10pm

You can use bird feeder poles and tie a bell on their cat’s collar so birds can hear when the cat approaches.

Bird feeder and a cat

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