How to Stop a Cat from Killing Birds

Cats are predators; they like to kill things. Cats naturally kill mice and birds. Nobody seems to mind to much when a cat kills a mouse, in fact cats are often kept as mousers, but people tend to be very upset when cats kill birds.

There are several ways a cat owner can prevent their cat from killing birds.

Preventing Outdoor Cats from Killing Songbirds

Cats that go outside are a major threat to songbirds. While some cats do not bother birds, and others are quite inept at catching them, a clever, and patient, cat can kill a bird every day that it is outside. There are several things you, as a cat owner, can do to reduce the risks of your cat catching and killing birds.

Provide your cat with a collar and bell. A clever cat will learn how to move without ringing the bell but at least it is better than nothing. Birds are good at seeing colors so try to buy a collar that is easy to see on your cat.

Click here to see Safe Cat Breakaway Collars

Do not encourage birds in your yard, do not have a bird bath or feeder that would attract them.

Build your cat an outdoor cat enclosure so when your cat is outside it is enclosed. Not only will this make it harder for your cat to catch birds, but also keeps your cat safely within your yard.

Let your cat out on a harness. Cats must be trained first for this and ideally not left tied outside without supervision.

Keep the cat indoors, or at least indoors more often.

Training Your Cat Not to Kill Pet Birds

If you have a cat and have pet birds you may be concerned about your cat going after them and killing them.

Small and flighty birds are the ones that a cat is most likely to attack. Larger birds, and those that are not as nervous, will not behave like prey and as such the cat is less likely to go after them. Large birds such as parrots can bite back if threatened.

Cats can be discouraged from attacking pet birds through consistent training. When a cat shows any interest in the bird the cat should be given a quick squirt with a water bottle. Never squirt the cat after it leaves the area as this is just tormenting the cat and it will not understand the relationship to the bird.  Until the cat is fully trained and shows no interest in your pet bird they should not be allowed together. 

Offer the cat treat rewards when in the room with the bird and is ignoring it.

Your pet bird must have a safe, and secure bird cage (one that will not tip over), just in case!

Click to see A and E Dometop Bird Cages

If you do not already have a cat, but do have a bird and are considering getting a cat, you may want to select a kitten.  Kittens are easier to train rather than a mature cat that perhaps has already enjoyed chasing birds. Or you might try to adopt a cat that has already lived with birds and is good with them.

Notes

Please note declawing does not prevent a cat from killing birds; cats kill with their teeth. Remember that cats are natural predators, to punish a cat for being a cat is unfair, a good owner would find other ways to prevent their cat from killing birds.

Other Reading

Causes of the Songbird Population Decline

Who, or What, is Killing the Songbirds?

How to Build a Cat Enclosure

Article has been republished on Full of Knowledge

Can you Trust Buying Pet Medications Online?

You should also be aware that many over the counter products, and particularly those for fleas and ticks, are not always safe for pets. Sadly there are many websites dedicated to warning pet owners about the risks of over the counter pet medications (including flea collars) to the extent that some pets have even died as the result of their owners using the products correctly. Concerns with over the counter flea and tick medications are that the ingredients are known to cause allergic, and sometimes fatal, reactions in some pets.

As such pet owners are now turning to their vet for safer medications to control fleas and ticks. Fleas and ticks are not only annoying but also be aware fleas can spread tapeworms and ticks can spread Lyme disease.

Many pet owners are looking online for savings on pet medications, particularly in the areas of flea and tick control, but there are also other pet medications are now available online from various companies. One thing you may not be aware of is that a lot of these online companies are not run by veterinarians and that they are often pharmacies for people.

VetApprovedRX is one of the few online companies where an actual veterinarian is involved. As such if you are going to order your pet's medications online you are much safer to consider this company than some of the others. Also their prices are great!

This is not to say that pet medications sold by all online companies are risky, but why take any risks?

As a bonus with an order of $39 (or more) from VetApprovedRX you are entitled to a free online veterinarian consultation in case you have any questions about your pet, its medications, or general pet care questions.

When buying any pet medications it is important to know the weight of your pet, do not guess. To find out how much your pet weighs step on a weigh scale while holding your pet. Note the weight. Put the pet down and note the weight. Calculate the difference and that is how much your pet weighs. Write it down rather than assuming you will remember it.

Ordering pet medications from your veterinarian, or online from a veterinarian run company, is a lot safer than ordering them from an unknown source or pharmacy not operated by a person with veterinary knowledge of pets.

VetApprovedRX sells Advantage II, K9 Advantix, Frontline, Capstar, and all your other favorite cat and dog medications and health products.

If your cat or dog has fleas, or you are worried about ticks, or are looking for great deals on other pet medications, please check out VetApprovedRX.   Use the link below to get a great deal on Frontline Plus.

Be aware that in many cases cat medication is not safe for dogs, and visa versa, unless otherwise indicated.

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Feeding Wildlife in Stanley Park, the Raccoons

We recently took a holiday to Vancouver, Canada. Our hotel was within walking distance of Stanley Park, a 1,000 acre park, surrounded nearly all the way by ocean. On our first night we walked to the Aquarium, and on the way we saw a family of raccoons, a mother and her two youngsters, raiding a garbage can.

The following day we walked around Stanley Park and sure enough we encountered more raccoons, including another mother with three youngsters and an adult who was missing a tail. There was a man feeding them what appeared to be fried chicken. A short time later a woman arrived to feed them grapes and cat food. Other people fed them cookies. 

To note, I am aware that grapes can be toxic to dogs, but not sure how they affect raccoons.

We spoke to many of the people who were feeding the raccoons and many said they made daily trips to feed the raccoons and other animals in the park. The people said that the park's people did not like them feeding the animals. They also told us that the parks people trapped and killed many animals every year.

Raccoons normally would eat fish (there are ponds in the park), crabs (from the ocean), insects, worms, as well as nuts, berries, and eggs.

We did not confirm if the parks people did trap and kill raccoons or not, but clearly there was a dilemma.

The parks people want the animals to be “wild” and to fend for themselves, feeding them can cause problems as their fear of people can turn them into pests. Normally raccoons are nocturnal but these were out in the day. 

If one bit a person there would be a rabies panic. The people felt terrible that the animals were being killed to control their populations, so were thinking that feeding them would mean animals would not be killed.  One persons said they thought the raccoons were being killed to stop them from eating the goose and duck eggs, but we also heard that duck and goose populations were being controlled too (supposedly people were shaking their eggs so they would not hatch).

Additionally a problem was occurring in that some people were feeding very unhealthy foods (cookies) to the animals. The people said they have gotten in trouble many times for feeding the animals but refused to stop.

I am not suggesting people do feed wild raccoons, however clearly some people are not going to stop doing so. It would be better if the people simply fed the animals a better diet, and did so later in the day so the animals could live more naturally.

Raccoons can eat cat food, ferret food, most vegetables (not onions, garlic, avocados), eggs, and fish. They should not have cookies, greasy foods, salty foods, and so forth.

Maybe the park's people could do the same as is done in some areas to control feral cats, they could trap the animals, spay or neuter some, and release them. Perhaps this is already being done and people are just not aware. Or the park's people could arrange for the raccoons to be relocated to wild areas, or to zoos.

As tourists we enjoyed seeing these animals, and hope they continue to inhabit areas of Stanley Park.

Click here to see more pictures of the Raccoons in Vancouver's Stanley Park.