Ugh! Neighbor's cat is KILLING my birds

[Heddi]

Of course, they're TECHNICALLY not 'my' birds--they're nature's birds but I feed them every day, water them give them snacks and they so love my yard, my trees, and the snacks I give them.

I had posted last week about finding dead chicks and that I didn't think it was cats because the birds didn't look mauled.

However, today, I came home and was moving the sprinklers in the yard when I saw this black thing flopping around by the lilac tree. I went closer and saw it was a Starling---I knew something was wrong when it didn't fly away as I got closer.

When I got to it, I saw it was bleeding and that one of its legs and wings was broken. I picked it up (thankfully it didn't bite me) and put it inside a kritter-keeper box I used to keep my mice in and called alllll the vets in the area cuz the Humane Society was closed at the time.

I was able to finally take it to the Humane SOciety, where they most likely euthanized it.

I'm SO pissed.

Not only has this cat killed at least 5 birds (chicks and now this starling), but it has SHIT all over my newly made veggie beds, climbed all over my car (footprints as evidence)---it's a black cat that lives across the street. I'm not anti-cat (I have one of my own that's STRICTLY indoors)----and I know that cats like to roam (bullshit---my indoor cat is as happy as a pea and has no desire to go outside).

It's so frustrating---I finally have a yard that not only can I plant in, but that attracts birds, and now I have a predator that is stalking my little birdies and shitting in my tomato beds. Arghhhh!!!! I really don't want the birds to get scared off and not come to the yard...they're so happy here and love playing in the sprinklers. I'm so pissed at that cat and it's owners. argh argh argh.

Sorry for the rant. I was so upset when I saw that bird today.

[blindpig]

1. well

you need to have a talk with the cat's owner. If that don't work your local animal control may provide traps with which you could capture the offender and turn it over to them. Options besides that are your call.

To be honest, I know that you enjoy watching the birds but starlings are not worth wasting any tears on. They are an invasive species and compete with our native songbirds, particularly for nesting sites. But for the starlings you might have bluebirds or tufted titmouse or somesuch in your birdhouse. Not to say that another invasive species, free roaming cats, should be tolerated either.

From your sig I see that you are a troublemaker but you can't be that much of one because you didn't post this in the Lounge;>)

[OnionPatch]

2. Have to admit

My reaction was the same. Starlings are a threat to our native birds. A huge threat in some areas. Not that it's their fault or anything, but still....I wouldn't lose any sleep over it.

Maybe you could ask your neighbor to just let their cat out at night? That's what I used to do. I found many less dead birds and more dead mice on the doorstep when I started doing that.

[Heddi]

3. It's not that I'm so upset that it's a Starling

but I have a pair of nesting Mourning Doves that come to my yard, plus plenty of pleasant juncos, sparrows, chickadees, a black-billed magpie, and some other strays that fly in---I would just DIE if I saw one of THOSE birds harmed by this damnable cat.

Hubby and I went to the owners yesterday---it's owned by the residents of the halfway house that's across the street (yes, I live in that kind of neighborhood). The House-Mother was very nice, but said that the cat was "communally owned" and that since it was owned by everyone, then EVERYONE would have to come to the agreement to keep the cat inside more than it is, and it's hard to get EVERYONE to agree on what to eat for dinner, much less what to do with the cat.

Needless to say, she was no help.

According to animal control, though, since the cat doesn't have a collar, and they don't have a record of a licensed cat residing at that residence, I can rent a cage from them, put it in my yard, and trap the cat. I'm hesitant to do that because I really don't want my house to get burned down or anything, but at the same time, I have cleaned up cat shit from my garden EVERY DAY THIS WEEK. And the cat isn't discreet. I think he has developmental problems because 1/2 the time he doesn't even cover his shat.

Thankfully, I wear latex gloves when I garden so I don't get a handfull of poop when I weed, but having had cats all my life, the scat is DEFINITELY cat scat and not raccoon, badger, bear, cariboo, or any other animal that other DU'er's have suggested could be pooping in my garden other than the cat (sorry for the rant).

I'm just keeping an eye on my yard, got the hose handy to squirt the cat if it wanders into the yard, and do Dead Bird Patrol (DBP) three times a day. Luckily, no more dead birds. Hooray.

[amazona]

5. yes cats kill mourning doves

My experience is that discussing with neighbors just alerts neighbors to your concern and causes you to be blamed when "someone" deals with the cat problem. :-( I have never met a cat owner who suddenly accepted responsibility and started keeping their cats inside because of some dead birds.

I think you need to do what you need to do, privately and quietly.

Starlings are now red-listed (endangered) in many areas of their native England. I'm not saying we shouldn't control them where needed in the United States -- we should -- but WE should be controlling them where needed and not teaching people that it's OK for their cats to kill any bird that isn't so pretty.

Short answer -- your instinct to be concerned was correct in my humble opinion.

The conservation movement is a breeding ground of communists
and other subversives. We intend to clean them out,
even if it means rounding up every birdwatcher in the country.
--John Mitchell, US Attorney General 1969-72

[Heddi]

7. Thanks for the support

Yesterday we were sitting in the yard and a Goldfinch came by for a visit--first time EVER a non gray, non brown bird has come to our yard. I was SOOO excited! It was soo pretty and just chiriping away and hanging out in the bushes and hopping about.

I've seen the mourning doves lately, but actually only one for the past few days. I'm hoping that the momma is hanging out in the nest and the daddy is bringing them food---I seriously hope that the other one wasn't injured or killed...they're so pretty and peaceful and I love the sound they make when they fly away. Plus, I give them credit for mating for life---I think that's just a nice thing....birdy soul-mates.

Ugh.

Well, I have to say that I"ve not seen the cat around for about 3 days---I don't know if someone else picked it up, or if the residents of the halfway house across the street have come to a unanimous conclusion to keep it inside more than they do. As much as I hate the cat (well, it's shitty owners), I don't hope that it got hit by a car or anything--that's just awful.

Sigh. At least my birdies are happy in my yard, and there haven't been any more casualties of adults or chicks since the Starling incident last week. Thankfully :)

[XemaSab]

4. Maybe try

a motion detector sprinkler?

[Heddi]

6. I thought about that when we had stray dogs in the yard

but our yard is so huge, and the cat jumps over our front & back fence, that we'd literally have to have about 35 sprinklers along the perimeter and that would only be a half-assed solution because in order to TOTALLY cover the entire perimeter of the yard, we'd need about 50---farrrrr too expensive for my budget at this time.

Sigh.

[BikeWriter]

8. I found a MockingBird and a Blue Jay dead last year...

The MockingBird had nested here for years, and may have been one we raised as it would tolerate me approaching its nest. I bought a Havahart trap. To hell with the rude neighbors; they wouldn't listen!

[Lefty48197]

9. Two words:

BIG DOG. Their cat will get over it's "roaming" tendencies.

[wildflowergardener]

10. Ultrasonic cat repeller worked great for me. No more cats in my yard.

Hi. I recently discovered this group and found your posts. I had been struggling with the neighbor's cat killing birds in my yard - also other neighbors cats. I cleaned out the garage one day and there were all kinds of feathers under my fathers antique car in there so it was taking them in there to eat them.

I finally bought an ultrasound cat repellor and I haven't seen a cat in my yard since - and it's been since fall. I used to see 1 or 2 every day I'd sit and watch the birds. The one I bought is called the Transonic Yard Protector. I also bought one called Catstop which is only for cats - and while that worked it went through batteries so fast it would cost a fortune. This one can run on power and either gives off a continuous sound or goes on when someone goes in front of it. I have it set to continous and it's sitting in front of my birdfeeder. They can only hear it where it's facing so it won't bother them in their yard - only when it comes into mine. I was going to use the catstop too but haven't needed to since I no longer see cats in my back yard. I figure I can't protect them everywhere, but at least they aren't going to get lunch at my birdfeeder and eat the birds in my garage.

The other thing I was going to try but never got to - was a high power water gun I borrowed from my brother.

Meg