| It happens to every cat owner. You open the | | | | birds. Unfortunately this is not very |
| front door in the morning, only to find a | | | | effective. Birds don't associate the sound |
| small pile of feathers and bones. Your cat | | | | of these bells with danger, and so won't |
| winds around your legs, purring, obviously | | | | necessarily flee the noise. Many cats become |
| proud of his lovely gift. Cats are the | | | | adept at moving slowly and gently so that the |
| number-one predator of birds, causing | | | | bells don't make much noise. |
| frustration for their owners and seriously | | | | |
| impacting the ecosystem. Is there any way to | | | | Cats tend to pick favorite spots from which |
| keep your feline from hunting? | | | | to hunt backyard birds. Discovering that |
| | | | hiding place and either dismantling it or |
| It is estimated that a cat can kill up to one | | | | making it inaccessible can diminish their |
| hundred birds each year. Millions of birds | | | | ability to stalk their prey. |
| are killed by pets and feral cats, as are | | | | |
| tens of millions of rodents and other small | | | | If you can actually catch your cat in the act |
| animals. Cats are not a natural part of the | | | | of hunting, spraying it with a hose will |
| ecosystem. They were introduced to North | | | | certainly interrupt it! Over time you may be |
| America in large numbers in the 1800's. | | | | able to keep your pet from constant killing, |
| Unlike other predators, cats are fed and | | | | but remember, this is instinctive behavior. |
| inoculated against disease, and are not | | | | You may not ever really be able to train your |
| reliant on their hunting skills for survival. | | | | cat not to hunt for birds. |
| In addition to killing birds through | | | | |
| hunting, cats can transmit diseases, which | | | | Another approach to keeping cats from killing |
| kill wildlife. | | | | birds is to keep the birds away from the |
| | | | cats. A large fake owl in the yard may |
| Keeping your cat well fed will not stop him | | | | frighten birds away and keep them from |
| from hunting. Stalking and catching birds is | | | | perching in the cat's hunting grounds. |
| instinctual for cats, so they do it whether | | | | Putting up netting or screening in a small |
| or not they need them for food. Often cats | | | | portion of your yard can provide outdoor |
| leave birds whole once they've killed them. | | | | space for your cat which the birds are unable |
| They will usually only devour the bird if | | | | to enter. |
| they haven't had a meal for a while. | | | | |
| | | | The best way to keep your pet cat from |
| So what, if anything, can you do to keep your | | | | killing birds is to keep it indoors. Many |
| pet from hunting and killing your local bird | | | | veterinarians and animal experts advise |
| population? | | | | keeping cats inside for a number of reasons. |
| | | | Certainly this is the only sure-fire method |
| Often people are advised to put bells on | | | | of keeping your backyard birds safe from your |
| their cat's collars to keep them from killing | | | | pet. |