Feline lovers who also enjoy watching their feathered garden visitors from their windows can help to create a sustainable environment in which both can live side by side. Many cat owners receive ‘presents’ from their pets such as dead birds left on the lawn or sometimes dragged through the cat flap. Our love for cats and birds is not mutually exclusive, so the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO) has produced a free guide on cats and garden birds offering advice in a number of practical steps to take into consideration.
An estimated 55 million birds are killed by cats every year, which in the long term can result in the decline of familiar birds such as House Sparrows. Cats do not depend on birds for food as they are well fed at home so their numbers are not threatened. We provide birds with food, bird baths, boxes for nesting, so it is a good idea to give a thought to their safety too. BTO recommends that householders space bird feeders around their gardens so that flocks are spread out and can spot cats easily. Hanging and pole-mounted feeders and bird tables are quite safe for birds, but ground-feeding species are more vulnerable so if you do put food on the ground, make sure it is an open space and away from places where cats can hide. Nesting boxes can be placed in thorny vegetation or protected by chicken wire which will give nesting birds protection from our feline friends. It is good to discourage cats, but do not apply any devices that may harm them. Cats like to have fun in their garden territory and get plenty of exercise climbing and playing and by following a few simple steps, you will be less likely to get a feathery present next time you wake up!
Have you just purchased a kitten from a Breeders Association registered cat breeder? Make sure you register your kitten for a 12 week free insurance within 48 hours of picking your pet up from the breeder. Visit www.cat-breeds.co.uk and you can choose from the standard Essential or the lifetime Essential + covers.