I so sad, (may offend cat owners)

[Vixen]

I HATE CATs

I went out into the garden tonight and noticed blood on my duck statue, looked more closely and there was alot more fresh blood around on the grass and up the fence. Conserned I checked the Headgehog Box, no was'nt her she was still there asleep. It was no where near the dog run and he had'nt been out yet since we got back home. Ferret house was locked, all pressent and correct.

I went in and asked my boyfriend to have a look we came to the conclution we had iver lost another bird to the cat at the back, or the cat itself wwas injured. So after dinner we went round to the ally round the back of are garden to see if we could find anything injured.

We found the cat sitting over the head and wings of a juvernile Starling. This cat is the only one in the area that will come into are garden, as it is the only one that has been around since the dog run was built, before that the cats knew not to even consider coming in as they would have been chased off.

I feel so gutted, I been watching these young starlings since they fledged, and they and there perent have been visiting my feeders for weeks.

The cat is well looked after, and fed, so why take a young bird to eat. It just does'nt seem fare.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Thats the downside of cats. One of the reasons for the reduction in numbers of birds, reptiles, amphibians and small mammals in areas where they are. Not only are they being blamed (atleast in part) for the decline of song birds there probaly the reason most people cant find slowworms in there garden anymore (they killed a 3rd of the slow worm population every year).
Despite being well fed they hunt for fun. Probaly one of the reasons some people think there evil! Mind you cat owners would probaly disagree lol

[DaiTheDragon]

Cat's don't hunt for fun, it's what they are supposed to do, it's called instinct.

Dai

[Za]

I`m very sorry to hear of this Vixen, these things often don`t seem fair, but as you are obviously a lover of all sorts of animals you will probably understand that the cat will have killed through natural instinct and not through any evilness or malice. I hope the rest of the starling chicks get through OK
Za

[warehouseman56]

Well we don't like cats, they make us mad.
Colin, Max The Puppy, Tilly Two Tails and P*ssy Pants.

[ChrisJB]

Sorry to hear about the Starlings. Cats are a nuisance and the bane of my life! Perhaps I should get a dog and let it out when a cat comes in the garden and let it follow it's instincts!

Regards, Chris

[glsammy]

We've witnessed our neighbours cat take a Robin and a Pigeon recently. The blighter then has the nerve to leave it at OUR doorway!
You can't blame the cats, as has been said it's their instinct. You just have to realize that every bird brood will loose young at some time. It's a rare event for a full brood to survive.

[Ukwildlifeo]

Originally Posted by DaiTheDragon

Cat's don't hunt for fun, it's what they are supposed to do, it's called instinct.

Dai

I agree with to a point. But sometimes, as unscientific as it is, I cna't help but sense they enjoy it. But then to be fair its not there fault, they evolved (and we then selectively bred) that way. Ju7st wish some (NOT all) cat owners would take more responsability for them: eg. put a collar with a bell on.

[demicav]

Originally Posted by Vixen

I HATE CATs

I went out into the garden tonight and noticed blood on my duck statue, looked more closely and there was alot more fresh blood around on the grass and up the fence. Conserned I checked the Headgehog Box, no was'nt her she was still there asleep. It was no where near the dog run and he had'nt been out yet since we got back home. Ferret house was locked, all pressent and correct.

I went in and asked my boyfriend to have a look we came to the conclution we had iver lost another bird to the cat at the back, or the cat itself wwas injured. So after dinner we went round to the ally round the back of are garden to see if we could find anything injured.

We found the cat sitting over the head and wings of a juvernile Starling. This cat is the only one in the area that will come into are garden, as it is the only one that has been around since the dog run was built, before that the cats knew not to even consider coming in as they would have been chased off.

I feel so gutted, I been watching these young starlings since they fledged, and they and there perent have been visiting my feeders for weeks.

The cat is well looked after, and fed, so why take a young bird to eat. It just does'nt seem fare.

It's very sad when that happens. Hunting is inbuilt in cats and they're doing what comes naturally to them. They probably do enjoy it, they're programmed to enjoy it, but that doesn't make it any easier to cope with. I sympathise with you.

[Steve149c]

Very sad to hear - and I agree it is instinct - however I followed the technological line and haven't seen any pesky cats in my garden since the installation. Yes it costs abit of money, but I can safely say that all the birds in my garden are protected - and i swear that they have even learnt that the cats don't come in.

I bought these Catwatch cat deterrent.

One to cover each side of the garden - so two. They are from the RPSB shop and don't affect the birds at all.

Hope this helps

Steve