Whether you are a cat owner or live in an area with roaming cats, there are several things that you can do to protect the birds in your area from cat predation.
Ideally, you should position your bird table in a reasonably open area, either fixed to the top of a post or hanging from a branch or bracket. This will make it easier for you to observe and will also reduce the risk of cats or other predators sneaking up on the feeding birds. Don’t put your table within easy reach of a fence or tree from which a cat can leap, but place it near a bush which gives birds somewhere to ‘queue up’ for a place on the table, or to dash if disturbed. It’s also important to place any nestboxes out of reach of cats.
If you have a cat of your own, we recommend that you keep them indoors as much as possible. A catio can be a great solution for keeping both cats and birds safe, while also giving cats the opportunity to enjoy some time outdoors. We understand that purchasing a catio or keeping cats inside is not always feasible and so, if you do let your cats outside, try to keep them indoors when birds are most vulnerable – the hour before sunset and after sunrise, especially during the nesting season, winter and after periods of bad weather.
Domestic cats should also be fitted with a correctly fitted collar and bell. Collars with bells have been shown to reduce cat predation.
