As a bird lover, seeing a variety of feathered friends flocking to your backyard feeders brings great joy. But your joy may turn to frustration when neighborhood cats discover your bird buffet. With their stealthy nature and lightning-fast reflexes, cats can wreak havoc at feeders. Luckily, you can outsmart even the cleverest cat and protect your fine feathered visitors.
Arm yourself with knowledge of cat behavior and take proactive measures. A multi-pronged approach works best to deter felines. Be patient and expect some trial and error in finding the right cat-proofing methods for your yard. With persistence, you can maintain a safe birdwatching zone. Here are 12 smart tactics to keep cats away from your bird feeders:
1. Choose Open Feeder Placement
Cats rely on sneaking up on prey and ambushing from hiding spots. Place feeders at least 10 feet away from bushes, fences or other potential cover. Prune back branches to open sightlines all around feeders. The more exposed a feeder is, the lower the odds of a stealth feline attack.
2. Install Feeders on Slippery Poles
Metal poles or PVC pipes coated with petroleum jelly or flexible plastic tubing can turn a cat’s climb into an amusing slipping and sliding match. Squirrel baffles below feeders also block climbing. The slicker the pole the less likely a cat will access feeders.
3. Surround Feeders with Uncomfortable Barriers
Create a 3-4 foot perimeter around feeders using pinecones, gravel, thorny rose bush trimmings or prickly mulch Cats dislike walking on uncomfortable surfaces Birds simply fly over to feeders. Refresh gravel/thorn boundaries regularly.
4. Employ Motion-Activated Deterrents
Strategically aim motion-activated sprinklers, ultrasonic devices or compressed air sprayers at key cat ambush points When triggered, these scare cats away With consistent activation, cats associate yards with unpleasant surprises.
5. Allow Feeders to Freely Move
Suspending feeders from flexible cords or multiple swiveling chains causes unpredictable swinging when bumped. Cats have difficulty pouncing on moving targets. The instability also deters perching. Ensure moving feeders are high enough for swinging room.
6. Use Natural Cat Repellents
Sprinkle dried citrus peels, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco or essential oils around feeders. Avoid direct contact with food. Reapply weekly. Strong scents signal an unwelcoming environment to cats. Baffle rain protection prolongs aroma.
7. Install Physical Barriers
Use thorny or prickly plants as impenetrable perimeter hedges around feeders. Fences, trellises and poles with greased baffles also obstruct access while allowing bird entry. Check for and prune potential cat jumping points regularly.
8. Adjust Feeder Placement Routinely
Move feeders randomly around the yard rather than leaving them in predictable spots. This adds an element of surprise that keeps cats guessing. Consistent relocation prevents cats from staking out prime ambush locations.
9. Choose Weight-Activated Feeders
“Squirrel-proof” feeders close when heavy animals like cats touch perches. Perches remain open to lighter birds. Seek wildlife-friendly designs sized for songbirds. Position over open ground without nearby springboards.
10. Keep Pets Indoors
For pet cats, leash walks and outdoor enclosures prevent stalking feeders. Increased indoor play also curbs hunting instincts. Block window views of feeders. Supervise any outdoor time to protect both birds and cats.
11. Remove Cat Temptations
Don’t offer ground feeding which attracts vulnerable birds. Clean fallen seed to reduce bait. Avoid peaks in activity when fledglings are present. Remove night lighting that illuminates night hunting.
12. Scare Aggressive Cats Away
For stubborn cats, break out the big guns. Loud noises, water guns, clapping or chasing them sends a clear message. Consistently scare off specific culprit cats. Motion activated noisemakers are handy when away.
With smart planning and deterrents, you can foil those stealthy cats and protect backyard birds. Observe cat behaviors and fine-tune your safe bird zone. A harmonious backyard oasis where both wildlife and pets can peacefully coexist is possible with innovation and commitment. Soon birds and bird lovers will rejoice over your new cat-proof bird feeding sanctuary.
The article starts with an introduction that draws readers in by empathizing with the frustrations of cats disrupting backyard bird feeding. It promises helpful tactics in an upbeat tone.
The body provides 12 detailed tips for deterring cats, including both physical barriers and scare techniques. The tips use section headers, explanation of why each method thwarts cats, and example images for visual learners.
The article employs conversational language such as “arm yourself with knowledge” and “outsmart even the cleverest cat” to boost engagement. Chunking information into numbered tips makes the advice easy to scan and absorb.
The conclusion summarizes the key takeaways and inspires readers to persist in finding the right cat-proofing approaches for their unique yards. It ends on an encouraging note of harmonious coexistence being possible.
Outdoors Your Cats Safety is at Risk
As a pet owner you want to keep your cat safe from any dangers and roaming free poses a lot of risk to your beloved family member. Being hit by a vehicle is one major concern, but there are other concerns as well. Outdoors your cat is at risk of getting diseases and/or parasites, fighting with other cats, breeding with other cats, having dangerous interactions with wildlife such as skunks, raccoons, porcupines, foxes and coyotes, being subject to harsh weather, getting stuck in trees (no really there is an entire TV show on cat rescues from trees), injuries from jumping from heights, getting tangled in burdock and other plants, and several other risks. Great Horned Owls are also expert hunters more than capable of hunting a cat as prey.
In addition there is a risk of cats being poisoned when they roam free. This can happen if they consume prey that has eaten poison, such as rodents eating rat poison. However, it can also happen if they eat the wrong plant outdoors. Seasoned cat owners know house plants can be toxic to their pets, and boy do cats ever enjoy getting into them. Outdoors there are a variety of poisonous plants that can cause harm.
Parasites can also be cause for concern. Cats are exposed to a variety of parasites outdoors than they would be as in indoor cat. Parasites carried by other wildlife, roundworm, heart worm, ticks, fleas and many more put a domestic cats health at great risk. Take for example toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that can affect most animals. Cats, however, are the only animal in which the parasite can complete its life cycle. Cats become infected by Toxoplasma gondii by eating the immature forms of the parasite contained within the muscle or organ tissue of other infected animals, such as mice. Toxoplasmosis can be transmitted to humans and can be a serious disease, particularly for pregnant women and people with a compromised immune system.
Another serious risk to outdoor cats is getting lost. While you may be confident in your kitty’s ability to navigate back home. Many cats get lost and eventually end up in shelters where they may or may not make it back home to you. How many times have you seen a “Lost Cat” sign? Too many!
The organization Cats and Birds (catsandbirds.ca) website has a great article on the dangers cats are exposed to outdoors. Consider what they have to say about the matter:
“The cat population is far from healthy in Canada. An estimated 261,000 cats in shelters did not find homes in 2016. Twice as many cats are dumped in shelters compared to dogs, and whereas 68 per cent of stray dogs are reunited with their owners, only 10 per cent of cats are returned home.
Cats are also frequently run over by vehicles. More than 1,300 dead cats were collected on the streets of Toronto in 2017!
Estimates indicate that many of those cats — as many as 30-40% — are allowed to roam unsupervised outdoors. Outdoor cats are exposed to a variety of threats, including diseases (e.g., FIV, FLV, cancer, heartworm), vehicle collisions, and fights with wildlife and other cats. Humane Canada (The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies) is one of many organizations that urges cat owners to keep their pets indoors unless the cat is supervised or in an enclosure.
While cats’ independent natures might lead some people to treat them like something between pet and wildlife, we owe them the same level of care we give dogs.
Letting cats roam unsupervised outdoors isn’t just bad for cats. It’s bad for birds too, as well as for people. Many of Canada’s birds are in trouble; some have declined by over 90%, and cats add to the list of risks that birds face. The official list of Bird Species at Risk increased from 47 to 86 between 2001 and 2014. Habitat destruction and climate change are taking their toll, but a lot of birds die due to other human actions and decisions. Environment Canada research estimates that, in addition to the impacts of climate change and habitat loss, 130 to 433 million birds a year die as a result of people. While it is extremely difficult to calculate the number of birds killed by pet and feral cats — especially when the number of feral cats is not well understood — cats are thought to cause 75% of those deaths.
For the cats’ sake, for the birds’ sake, and for our own sake, we need to change how we care for our beloved feline friends.”
A Cat’s Mouth Contains a Lot of Harmful Bacteria
Even if a wild animal survives an attack, whether bird or cottontail, they will still almost certainly die. Cats mouths contain a lot of bacteria and a bite will result in a serious infection that can grip small animals quickly. Even one puncture wound can prove fatal. Unfortunately animals that have survived the initial attack almost never pull through.
Cats are great at showing their love for you after time spent outside by leaving you “little presents”. If you’re the owner of a cat who roams free outside you probably know what I mean, dead rodents or birds left right at your doorstep as a sign of their affection for you. You probably don’t relish in the task of cleaning up these gifts and by keeping your cat indoors you won’t have to deal with this unpleasantness.
How to Keep Cats Away From Bird Feeders
FAQ
What repels cats but not birds?
What is the 5 7 9 rule for bird feeders?
The “5-7-9 rule” is a guideline for placing bird feeders to deter squirrels. It suggests placing the feeder 5 feet off the ground, 7 feet away from any structure, and 9 feet below any overhanging branches according to The Audubon Shop.
How do you stop feral cats from eating birds?
- Feed at Specific Times : Set a feeding schedule and only put out food during those times.
- Elevate the Food : Use a raised platform or feeding station that is high enough to deter birds but still accessible for the cat.
- Use Bird-Proof Feeders
- Create an Enclosure