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

Feliway Helps Stop Behavioral Urination Problems in Cats

There are many reasons why cats do not use their litter box. Some of the common cases are:

• Urinary tract infection
• Type of litter the cat does not like
• Dirty litter box
• Cat not neutered
• Too many cats, not enough litterboxes
• Bad choice of placement for the litterbox
• Declawing
• and so forth.

One of the other reasons why a cat might not use its litter box for urine is behavioral. Cats, as laid back as they look, are actually fairly high strung, and sensitive. They often suffer from anxiety issues and stress. 

Cats can be stressed by many things; a new baby, new house, chaos in the home, or even other cats hanging around.

Feliway is a product made for cats with stress related concerns, or those who spray to mark territory. It has been proven to help reduce urination around them home as when brought about by stress or normal marking behavior sometimes seen in cats that are fixed (not other problems) and has also been shown to reduce clawing and scratching. 

How Does Feliway Work?

Feliway mimics a cat's pheromones (scent hormones) to calm them. When a cat is calm it does not feel as much of a need to mark its territory with urine (yes female cats do this too, even neutered males). It is a spray that is applied after cleaning any urine soaked areas.

Humans cannot smell Feliway but cats can. Feliway encourages a cat to rub its face on the areas that have been sprayed, in this way the cat puts its scent in areas so will not feel the need to spray those areas. It is important that owners do not wipe clean the area after the cat has wiped its face there.

Typically after a month's use, Feliway has shown a 95% success rate. It should be sprayed once or twice daily to problem areas. Feliway is never sprayed directly on the cat.

To calm a cat before a trip, spray the carrier the night before you take the cat in it. Leave the carrier open so the cat can go in. Give another spray just prior to putting your cat in the carrier. In an emergency situation where you cannot spray the carrier the night before, one spray just before putting the cat in is still effective to help calm the kitty. 

Feliway Spray 75 ml Feliway spray is an effective medication to prevent urine marking and scratching and also control stress related behavior in cats. This pet care product prevents cats from urinating where they shouldn't by duplicating the smell of a cat's natural scent glands. Feliway mimics the feline facial pheromone, which have a general calming effect which helps neutralize the urge to urine mark.

Natural Remedy for Dogs who Eat their Own Feces

Coprophagia is the name given for when a dog that eats its own feces. This is a disgusting habit in the eyes of many pet owners, but perfectly natural among dogs. Some breeds, such as the Dachshund, seem more prone to engage in eating their own stools.



A long standing myth has been that dogs eat their stools because their food is low quality. We now know this is not true, dogs eating poor quality food are not going to get any additional vitamins or nutrients in their stool. However there has been a link made between dogs with vitamin B deficiencies and coprophagia.

A dog fed a good quality food is likely to engage in coprophagia simply because there can be some undigested bits in their poop, and quite honestly, their poop might even smell yummy!

A dog with worms might be getting fed enough but the worms are eating their share of the dog's food and making digestion difficult, as such the dog may still feel hungry and eat its feces as a result.

Mother dogs eat the stools of their pups as a way to keep the den area clean. In the wild dogs might also eat their own feces around their den as a way to keep the area clean. In puppy mill situations a bored dog might even eat its own stools as something to do, or as a way to fill its empty stomach if underfed.

Owners who leave their dog out in a dirty backyard with very little mental stimulation, may find that their dog picks up coprophagia as a habit.

How to Stop a Dog from Eating its Stools

The first thing an owner can try to do is to be more proactive in regards to cleaning up after their dog. As coprophagia sometimes starts when the dog is a puppy, while house training an owner can pick up after the pup immediately and give the pup a small treat reward so that it never even thinks about turning around to eat its poop.

Some people have found that adding canned pineapple or meat tenderizer to the dog's food can help as they may make the dog's stool taste bad after the fact. This is a home remedy that works for some dogs, but not others. Dogs that have been eating their own stool for some time will have

There are also products available in stores and online that can help with this nasty behavior. Not all of these products are any good, and some use questionable ingredients, so always look for an “All-Natural” product when dealing with any sort of concern like this.

Save 5% on your first order at Only Natural Pet Store! Coupon code CJ15.

Only Natural Pet Store has a terrific product, Only Natural Pet Stool Eating Deterrent

screen shot from only natural pet

The Only Natural Pet Stool Eating Deterrent product is a pill that contains:

• digestive enzymes (to help improve digestion so fewer yummy bits are left in the stool), 
• cayenne pepper (to make the stool taste bad), 
• vitamin B (to combat any deficiencies), 
• yucca (to reduce the smell of the stool),  
• and a few other natural ingredients. 

This product is made in the USA, and contains human grade ingredients. One bottle contains 90 pills.

Click here to learn more about this great product or to get it.

Concerned pet owners will always look for all natural solutions to any pet problem they have, noting that second to accidents, cancer is a leading killer of pets.



Read other articles on products from Only Natural Pet

What are Holistic Pet Products
Natural Ways to Control Fleas and Ticks
Vegetarian Dog Foods

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.

Get Frontline Plus FREE Dose! Buy 6 doses, and get 1 additional dose. FREE Shipping Everyday!