How do you keep cats away from your bird feeders?

[likesmountains 52]

I don't know where they come from, but I'm sick of seeing them hiding in the bushes waiting to pounce. I have cats...but they stay inside. Thanks for any ideas.

[DarkPhenyx]

1. Barbaque sauce...

...and a hot grill. Cats are food. :evilgrin:

[nickinSTL]

2. Aren't bird feeders

designed to draw cats?

Cats are SO much more interesting to watch!
:evilgrin:

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

3. Drown them in the bathtub

[HereSince1628]

4. In true Blue states birds disappear when a cat shows up.

Jus' kidding...well sort of, anyway.

[dbackjon]

5. Booby traps designed for weights over 1 pound work well.

Seriously though, cats are a major problem - millions of birds are killed yearly by cats. There is absolutely no reason for a cat to be outdoors - they do not belong there.

[likesmountains 52]

6. umm, ok

guess I'll just start putting cat food out instead..maybe that'll attract dogs? Seriously, I'm sick of finding feathers and dead birds out there.

[quisp]

7. bb gun

with 1 or 2 pumps.

[MissMillie]

8. I keep my cats indoors (n/t)

.

[Gogi]

9. And now, for a serious answer....

you need to move your feeder away from hiding places. If that's not possible, put the feeder near a prickly bush like a rosebush or a holly. Cats have tender feet so putting chickenwire around the base of the feeder and under the nearest bushes will work, too. If you do that don't forget it's there! Just remember that the furry little buggers can leap four feet straight up so hang your feeder high and on a thin pole.

[likesmountains 52]

17. thanks

that is a good idea...

[arwalden]

10. landmines

[Briarius]

11. Yep!

Landmines, a moat, and then razor wire around the pole...it will be tough to re-fill it, but the birds will probably be safe then

[liontamer]

12. surround the bird feeder with water

i.e. place it somewhere you either have to swim to or fly to. That should minimize the cat problem

[Snow]

13. Get some watch-squirrels -

they'll protect that feeder from cats!

[Zuni]

14. guard them with another cat

cats hate other cats

[GingerSnaps]

15. Why don't you feed them

They are strays and they are hungry.

[likesmountains 52]

16. I am feeding them...

birds!

[arwalden]

18. Dogs

[SoCalDem]

19. Not much you can do about neighborhood cats.. (please don't harm them)

Cats are predators :(.. They chase things that move.. Perhaps you could put up some chickenwire in front of the bushes, so they could not hide/pounce as easily..or hope the birds get smarter...

If the cats are known to you, you might warn their "owners" that you'll use a have-a-heart trap, and haul them off to the pound..

We feed outdoorsies, but they have never gone after the birds..

Try "pea gravel" too.. When you see them, lob a handful in their direction.. It won't hurt them, but maybe they will get the idea that you want them gone :)

[likesmountains 52]

22. I like cats

and I wouldn't hurt them.....I just want them to go away from my back yard so I can still feed the wild birds without just making them dinner for the neighborhood kitties. I am going to try the chicken wire idea.
I already have my dog chase the cats away if I see them, but they don't seem to stay scared off for very long...my dog won't hurt the cats either...he lives with some.

[Lefta Dissenter]

20. I put a little fence around mine

that cheap wire fencing - to make a little birdie pasture. The cats can jump over it, but it's much harder for them to stalk the birds if they have to leap over a fence.

[likesmountains 52]

23. thanks..

I'll be off to the COOP tomorrow for chicken wire and fences.

[Cuban_Liberal]

21. Super Soaker squirt gun.

Works like a charm. Few cats come back for a second blast. :)

[zanana]

24. Put chicken wire at the base of the feeder.

Start right next to the base, then widen the circles so the cats can't just jump over the "fence". This works for me.

[Lefta Dissenter]

25. are you saying

you make a spiral, or concentric circles? Can the birds still eat the seed on the ground underneath? TIA :hi: