Comments on: Hi, my cat catches too many birds. What must i do so that he sets the bird free once he has caught one?

By: ella

ella — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 23:04:15 +0000

Not only can you not train your cat to let birds go, but it wouldn’t help if you could — cats have bacteria in their mouths and on their claws that is quite toxic. It will cause serious infection in a bird from even a tiny invisible scratch, so even bird that appear fine and escape from cats typically die within a few days.

While cats have a hunting instinct, they are a domestic predator with no place in the wild – these birds have not evolved with defenses against them. I’d recommend keeping your cat indoors – cats can be totally content indoors as long as you give them attention and things to do (otherwise they get bored). Check out http://www.keepanimalssafe.ca for more info.

If you feel you just can’t keep your cat in, you might consider building an outdoor cat enclosure, or buying a cat bib (won’t stop it but may reduce) – you can see suggestions from the american bird conservancy here: http://bit.ly/6V9iNd.

By: See Green

See Green — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:49:00 +0000

Use a CatBib to stop your cat from killing birds. University tested and recommended by Audubon. It really works.

By: ~Lisa~

~*Lisa*~ — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:29:12 +0000

Try getting a collar for him with a bell. Sometimes the noise of the bell will alert the bird before the cat can attack him.

By: alminemine

alminemine — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:32:29 +0000

Cats will catch birds (and other small animals) often as a game.They do this at times even when not hungry.
After the bird is caught the cat will will play with it . It is also common for the cat to want to bring the prey into the house to show you (showing off).

Once caught the bird is highly likely to be badly injured and it maybe (is probably) better to let the cat finish the job for the birds sake.

The best way is prevention and one suggestion is to have a noisy bell on the cats collar so as to hopefully scare off the bird before it is caught.
If your cat is not de-sexed doing so may lessen your cats desire to go chasing after birds.
Also you could build an enclosure outside which prevents your cat accessing the birds but still lets him stretch his paws out in the sun.

Hope this has been of some help and it is good to hear of a cat-owner with concern for other wild life too!

By: hill bill y

hill bill y — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:42:06 +0000

put a bell on his collar

By: brutusmom

brutusmom — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:26:27 +0000

Tammy’s suggestion of TWO bells on the collar is a good one. I have cats and birds (dogs and squirells), and I’ve noticed that if a cat is “stalking” a bird, he is so slow/slinky, that the ONE bell doesn’t make any noise. Therefore….2 bells might work! If you are feeding birds in your yard (trees/shrubs w/berries, bird “seed” feeders, etc) YOU are part of the PROBLEM….if the birds can’t find food/shelter, they’ll go to someone else’s yard! Hope this helps…Good luck!

By: Jim D

Jim D — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 21:10:22 +0000

get a dog.

By: Krysia K

Krysia K — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:24:23 +0000

but him a bell for his collar, the noise will warn the birds before he catches them. it worked well for my cat.

By: lumpy

lumpy — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:20:43 +0000

you have a better chance teaching him to talk

By: Bec

Bec — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 19:42:39 +0000

a cat will never let its prey go after it catches it!!! the best thing u can do is put a colar with a bell on it on ur cat or just keep it in side