A cat catches a bird: unfortunately a common picture in our gardens. But what options are there to protect birds from cats in the garden? Can you stop cats from catching birds? And what to do with birds that have been rescued from cats?
Free-range domestic cats are often not welcome among bird lovers. While the popular cuddly tigers aren't necessarily more dangerous than any other predator, their large numbers make them a real problem in home gardens. About 13 million cats live in Germany, of which about 8 million are free-range cats and prey on a considerable number of songbirds every year. But of course we don't want to demonize house cats, because many cat lovers are also at the same time Bird lovers and would like to protect their garden birds as well as their domestic cats enough exercise Offer. With this in mind, we've put together a few tips for a cat-safe garden, and we also explain how you can wean cats from catching birds a little and what to do with a bird rescued from cats.
"Contents"
- Protect bird houses and the like from cats
- Can you stop cats from catching birds?
- Cat brings live bird: what to do
Protect bird houses and the like from cats
Regardless of whether it is your own cat or a neighbor's - if a little predator sneaks around the garden regularly, it means a lot of stress and uncertainty for our domestic garden birds. This is especially true for the breeding season, as young birds are particularly easy prey and the parents of birds by predators Brood care are disturbed because they have to fly detours to the nest and the search for food is made more difficult.
The following tips can help make life easier for wild birds in a feline-rich environment:
- Secure feeding stations and nesting boxes: do not bring out any food on the ground and offer it instead, in hanging bird feeders or on high feeding stations, which are not for cats are attainable. The same applies to nest boxes; these are in good hands, for example, on a smooth facade at a height of at least 2 m.
- Counter with fragrances: Cats can also be kept away from the garden or from certain places by unpleasant smells. There are both special powder as well as helpful plants, such as the so-called Piss off plant ’(Plectranthus caninus), which is supposed to keep cats away for several meters, but seems odorless to us.
- Provide shelter: In dense or even thorn-reinforced bushes, birds find quick protection from predators and free-breeding species even find safe nesting opportunities.
- Secure your trees: To keep cats from climbing around trees, there are special wire belts that you can attach to the trunk. Alternatively, you can also plant thorny bushes here or, for example, wrap blackberry tendrils around the trees.
- Owners of outdoor cats should also make sure that their cats are neutered and tagged to avoid uncontrolled reproduction and release into the wild. In addition, if possible, at least during the breeding season from March to June, the outdoor area could be restricted or better supervised.
Can you stop cats from catching birds?
The hunting instinct of cats is a primal instinct that cannot be easily trained. Although domestic cats do not depend on wild animals for food, hunting is theirs Demand to move and their play instinct, which is extremely good for the psychological well-being of the big cats important is. Anyone who tries to actively deter cats from hunting is not doing them any good in the long run. Instead, however, you can try to satisfy the play instinct in other ways by playing with them yourself and keeping them occupied. This can reduce the hunting instinct.
Cat brings live bird: what to do
If you manage to rescue a wild bird from the clutches of a domestic cat, the first thing you should do is to get an idea of its condition. If the bird does not fly away immediately and appears apathetic, but has no external injuries, you should bring it to a dark, quiet place in a cardboard box with air holes. The birds are then often in shock and need rest to recover. If the animal starts moving and tries to fly away, you can release it. However, if the animal has not recovered after several hours or if you have external injuries or fractures right from the start Limbs should be consulted with a veterinarian, bird sanctuary, or appropriate foster home, such as one of the NABU wild bird care stations. Because caring for injured birds requires experience and expertise and usually goes wrong in the hands of laypeople - even if it is well meant. As bacteria from the cat's saliva can penetrate even through small injuries to the bird, it is very important to see a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about birds. This can give the bird antibiotics and prevent worse.
More practical tips and instructions in case you have one injured bird found you can find out in our special article.
Not only cats, but also diseases and parasites can make life difficult for birds. The most common diseases and parasites of birds we present to you here.