Great Tits ... I'm really upset!!

lilylove · #1 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 04:17 PM

I've been watching for several weeks, Mr and Mrs Great Tit in one of my home made nest boxes. Lovely to see them and they have put in so much effort ..... Trouble is, the youngsters fledged and flew straight into the mouths of my cats!! Four killed .... before I rehome said cats (all rescued from bad homes) is there anything else I can do please cos I don't want to have to have this heartbreak again!! I'm thinking of putting up 5' bird netting around the area ... do you have any other suggestions??

Thanks for your reply

Jim Ford · #2 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilylove

do you have any other suggestions??

Get used to it, if you insist on housing cats!

I'm sorry I can't offer anything more constructive, but I for one get fed up at this time of the year with cat owners coming on this forum wringing their hands over the damage their pets cause to wildlife!

Jim

Kayleigh · #3 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 05:18 PM

Hi and welcome to WAB..

But in the circumstances it would be best not to put up nest boxes and try to discourage birds into your garden.
Unless you are prepared to keep the cats in doors in the breeding season or like you say re-home them.
I know people love their cats and its up to them but they do kill hell of a lot of wildlife.
Sorry I am trying to be constructive..but I prefer birds to cats.

Za · #4 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 06:41 PM

*Yawn* Jim off on his cat rants again. If someone comes here asking for help and advice they dont really need your anti cat views and guilt trips thrown at them, theres no need for it really. Just my thought on the matter.
Za

freiston · #5 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 07:05 PM

Hi lilylove,

The British Trust for Ornithology has produced a free guide for cat owners "that outlines practical steps that householders can take to minimise the impact of cats on garden birds".

From The British Trust for Ornithology website:

"For a free BTO guide on cats and garden birds or for more information about BTO Garden BirdWatch please telephone 01842 750050, email gbw@bto.org or write to GBW Cat Guide, BTO, The Nunnery, Thetford, Norfolk, IP24 2PU."

Edit: There's a lot of truth in what Za says - I wouldn't have dared asked for cat advice on a birding board - anti-cat attitudes add to the problem and help no-one.

Moonmoth · #6 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 09:18 PM

I would suggest Bells round necks, so at least the little mites get a fighting chance .

Kayleigh · #7 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 09:42 PM

My springer got a sparrow the other day so its not just cats..
I am devastated too and will never own another hunting dog.
I love my dog but I feel so strong about this wildlife comes first.
My other show type springer never ever killed anything this one has had blackbirds,sparrows,mice even a rabbit from a hole in the verge while she was on lead.
She even got 2 mice one out in a field the other from my garden.
The rabbit escaped unharmed as I prized it from her jaws..
lucky springers have soft mouths she didn't harm it.

greenace233 · #8 (**permalink**) 29-05-2010, 10:09 PM

Hi there

I dont keep cats for that reason. I have anti cat devices up. spikes on fences and still the little darlings are killing my garden birds. Its heartbreaking and during breeding season people with cats should be more aware of letting their cats out. I have lost lost of birds. The cat down the road kills them for fun. Stores them under my bush. I looked today as my garden was covered in one of my white doves feathers, Under the bush was a blackbird, starling, pigeon, dunnock and 2 robins. So rehome the cats is my advice or keep them in when breeding season is on.

lilylove · #9 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 06:50 AM

Thanks everybody for your replies (even the negative ones!! - I really didn't need beating up any more than I have myself!!)

Have decided on a 3-pronged action. Can net across my wildlife area, get a litter tray and keep my cats in if I'm lucky enough to have birds nesting next year!! Unfortunately I can't guard against other people's cats but I'll do my best with my own - I can't go through this agony again!!

PMG · #10 (**permalink**) 30-05-2010, 08:35 AM

The best thing all round would be not to have nest boxes - rehoming the cats is not a nice thing to do - I've had cats that have been 'passed around' - it affects their psyche and doesn't help them to be 'well behaved - well rounded personalities' from the human viewpoint ...... keeping the cats in suddenly when they have been outdoor cats its not a decent thing to do either ..... I guess what I'm saying is - its an either/or situation and I apologise for being blunt ........ There isn't much you can do to protect the young once they fledge and this is where the problems come - we've all watched the parents work really hard to feed them and as you say they come straight out into the real world and die - from whatever cause - if it wasn't a cat - it would be a sparrowhawk - or traffic or bad weather or getting trapped down grids or a hundred other things that kill young birds in thousands ........

Pauline