I am having a big problem this year with my youngest cat killing wildlife.  I expect the odd one but she is catching at least 2 birds/mice or rabbits every day - she brings them into the house too, dead or alive, which my dogs think is very exciting!  I have tried a bell on her collar, increased it to two bells but still she is catching them.  I have an elderly diabetic cat and don't want to lock the cat flap in case he gets stuck outside. 

Does anyone have any other advice?  Has anyone tried a sonic collar? 

One thing you could try is to keep the cat in when the birds tend to be most about, e.g. early mornings, afternoons. So could you perhaps let her out at night? It may lessen the amount she can get...

>So could you perhaps let her out at night?

Given that cats that are allowed out at night run a high risk of becoming roadkill, that might be a step too far at reducing her hunting!

Cats do what cats do. :-) It's why many people have them to do their job which is hunting, we don't have an awful lot of wildlife in this country that hunts mice, rats, the rabbit population and birds, they can handle the odd cat being a prevalent hunter and to be honest it is probably just as well that they do, I wouldn't worry about it in looking for ways to stop it, unless a cat were taking expensive fish or chickens, ducks or geese then the owners would need re-enforcement's to prevent cats getting in, but normal free wildlife I truly wouldn't worry yourself.

Unless we keep our cats in runs or in the house they will do what they are bred to do and if your cat wearing 2 bells is still able to be a good predator so be it, :-) Darn good show with 2 bells. :-D She won't be making much of a dent in wildlife and is probably doing a service to overpopulation.

I'm sure most of us with cats have to tolerate the presents. I've saved only a bluetit, thrush and one mouse, the rest have been half dead or dead. It's just life. Last year one of my cats was sat on my conservatory with the biggest pigeon I'd ever seen hanging from his mouth, it was as big as him!

I'd leave be and not worry. :-)

that's all very well but pet cat numbers are at much higher predator density than nature intended. 

No problem over the Rabbits and mice, but the song birds numbers being decimated is a serious issue.

Are you able to discern any specific ambush sites regarding the birds, where is she taking them from (bird table your lawn etc).

I would remove undergrowth etc where she hides so the birds have a better chance at spotting her.

Rather than the bell a couple of discs (I can hear my dogs jingling all the time as they wear a brass ID tag and an aluminium one for their chips).

but the song birds numbers being decimated is a serious issue.

Yes, true enough there are huge decreases in song birds, I would hate to see us lose them, but I've not read anywhere that that is due to cats, reasons are everything from urbanisation, pollution, larger increases in other birds driving them out etc, I've not seen cats mentioned anywhere...........to date.

http://www.bto.org/sites/default/files/u16/downloads/other_reports/stateofukbirds10.pdf

Yes don't see anything mentioned here but have only skimmed through the report but more down to other fundamental
Issues than cats :-)

Barbara, she is climbing the trees in my garden for some of the birds.

The mice I can just about cope with as there are an awful lot around here - except at the present time I have a live one wedged behind my radiator where it has taken refuge :( .  I had a live robin in the bathroom perched on my shower rail last week, which I managed to get out alive, but she has made up for it since.

Time of day doesn't seem to make a difference - it is just anytime she is awake.  Anyone want a good mouser?!!

I would try the discs as Barbara has sugested they do make a lot more noise. I think bells are a waste of time. Link them one link apart so the do not get stuck together but still touch. That way they will be noisey all the time.
And yes Cats are are big killer of songbirds. My front garden is a haven for cats killing birds as it's very secluded for a town garden and I am forever chasing off hunting cats eying up the bird table, and picking up poor dead bodies and feathers every day. They even killed a woodpecker last year.....a pied one...they come for the ants between the paviers. (the woodies not the cats)
Aileen

Thanks - I'll try the discs.

Jan,

Re: The tree in your garden, you can use this product below, to stop your cat getting to nesting birds.

http://www.jacobijayne.co.uk/care--safety/cats/

I found this quite an interesting view
http://www.rspb.org.uk/advice/gardening/unwantedvisitors/cats/birddeclines.aspx

> but I've not read anywhere that that is due to cats

But 27 million birds a year is a lot !!!!

Tips to stop cats killing birds

55 million according to RSPB, but mainly birds that probably would have died anyway

> Thanks - I'll try the discs.

And maybe some 'pet bling'? I'm being serious.... I got a pretty diamante charm for my cat's collar, £1 from a cheap shop, and the way it sparkles when the light catches it probably helps scare off birds.

It's often more of a problem at this time of year when parents are busy feeding or when young birds fledge.

Ideally you'd discourage birds from entering your garden before nesting begins, and I certainly wouldn't recommend you feed the birds, but a certain amount of predation is quite normal.  You have to consider that to some degree the birds (some species) are being supported in greater numbers by feeding (particularly in urban areas) and predators will simply exploit that.  We don't have cats round here but we do have sparrowhawks and I'm happy to feed the birds, to feed them too!

My pup was prancing around the garden today with the bits of a starling that something left behind.  He was terribly pleased with himself but I can't say I enjoyed listening to the crunching, and did he really have to fling the wings about...

You can place a plastic collar on the tree trunk (imagine the equivalent of a Frisbee with a hole in the middle)--put it high up enough and the cat can't jump above it and she can't climb above it from underneath either.

I am considering using a water pistol this year after cats killed two families of blackbirds, parents and young, in my garden. I was more upset about them than losing the odd chick to the cats.

Thanks all of you.  I have put two dog discs on her collar now as well as the bell.  I love both the tree ideas but unfortunately the worst offending tree is one that has loads of branches coming up from near the bottom, so I wouldn't be able to put anything high enough to help.

I managed to get the mouse out from behind the radiator in one piece too!

Well, she is now wearing a 'liberator collar' which beeps and flashes when she pounces (and at various other times but it doesn't seem to bother her!), two bells and two dog discs - and no more bodies!  Let's hope it lasts!