—I kinda feel like if people are putting out bird feeders that the cats are routinely using as a hunting ground, that is bad for other reasons? Like, yes, take that feeder down, because it’s a death trap!
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All that said, predators are way more likely to pick it up, of course, but waterfowl remain the primary natural reservoir and songbirds don’t seem to be of concern in most of the country.
thank you very much! we haven't been feeding the birds since all these cats showed up, and we can't do much of anything about the cats other than worry about them bc they're not our cats, so thank you for helping me worry about them somewhat less 💙
It’s all up in the air, but I do not think there is an action ypu are failing to take that would significantly change the situation, if that is any kind of comfort?
I’m more worried about the bird poop, if that makes sense? I can mostly keep my cats indoors (sometimes they bolt), but ack, if i need to start thinking about sparrow and cardinal 💩, I’m going to end up bleaching my shoes every time i come inside. Or more likely, not going outside at all. :(
You do not need to become a dedicated agoraphobe! Is it possible to keep shoes away from the cats? If you can remove them before you come into the house and keep a dedicated pair that you can disinfect as needed, you’ll be following the safe hiking guidelines even in your neighborhood.
Thank you for taking me seriously! I can manage that for myself, but not for the workers who come into my home. Maybe i can disinfect the floor after they leave
This is reminding me of the boot scrubbers I saw in the hills in England back in 2001. I wonder if i could find something like that?
Now I’m all, hm, well, if I have to re-waterproof my old Keens to have inside and outside shoes, then I should mix in some of that duochrome mica… Obviously, I will need to make samples mixed with Shoe Goo to see what it would look like over medium brown leather
Another option if you have the space for it is a disinfectant station. You could use a tray you simply stand in that has a low lvl of disinfectant (fam40 or similar) or go for an actual boot wash.
My indoor cats seem plenty entertained by vicarious hunting. We put up bird feeders and then they chatter at them through the window and thrash their tails a lot.
Also, we used to have a bird feeder right outside the front door (it's been down for awhile and we'll prob wait for this latest bout of bird flu to clear up before filling it again). The cats could watch the birds on the bird tree inside, birds could eat safely, and everyone was happy. More or less.
Oh yeah, I’ve seen my cats reach 4+ feet high when they can slide up the glass as they jump. (Usually for a bug high on the window or screen.) I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen it myself!
That's why for years the only bird feeder I had was a hummingbird feeder, because I figured the cats couldn't catch THEM. And then one night Loki came in with a dead hummingbird in his mouth - a female or juvenile, so I figured he found a nest. I didn't set the hummingbird feeder out the next year.
Hummingbirds often fly low to the ground, making them vulnerable despite the feeder height. I've seen cats staking out feeders about fifteen feet away. The hummingbirds would swoop low between the feeder and the hedge. There isn't much you can do once the cats figure out the usual flight path.
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This is reminding me of the boot scrubbers I saw in the hills in England back in 2001. I wonder if i could find something like that?
But then I'm an Aussie, and cats are an ongoing apocalypse for natives critters and have been for over a century.
PET CATS SHOULD BE INSIDE ONLY CATS. Better for the wildlife and better for the cats too!
My tiny!cat is also REALLY into a largish moth or skink on the window or near it, trying to 'dig' through the glass and bouncing surprisingly high!
Of course, the cube-square law is very in your favour when you're not even 3kg! =^_^=