Stray cats

[steve]

Hi All

I have noticed with horror that I have 2 stray cats hanging around my Aviaries lately. I have tried to chase them away but they keep coming back. I am not sure if they are lost, were abandoned, ran away from fireworks (this happens) or are just looking for a new home. I don't want to harm the cats but I also don't want them to harm my birds. Yesterday one of the males started marking areas around my cages and even p'd on one of my seed storage bins. That was the last straw I went out and bought a cat trap in an effort to catch them and take them to the SPCA, I am not willing to take any chances with them harming the birds or spreading some sort of sickness. Never a dull moment.

Regards
Steve

[lovezebs]

steve
Trapping the strays is one answer.
Adopting them is another. Catching them, getting them neutered and vacinated and fed should solve a lot of problems, plus, they can keep different kinds of rodents away from your aviary which are more likely to carry disease than the cats.
Just a thought.

~Elana~

[MariusStegmann]

SPCA Steve. It take constant supervision to teach cats not to catch birds if you were to adopt them. I have lost many birds due to neighbour's cats.

"'n Dooie kat is 'n goeie kat"

[debbie276]

I also have seen several neighbors cat go up one side and down the other of my aviary. That is till I installed an electric fence, which also helped keep away the wild vermin.

Good luck

[Rox]

"'n Dooie kat is 'n goeie kat"

sies Marius! Poor cat's only doing what is natural. But yeah, it taken a lot of time and effort to get my cats to leave my birds alone. I also get rather peeved off when strays come into the yard...

Steve, holding thumbs you catch them and get them to the SPCA soon. Better for all of you!

[steve]

Steve, holding thumbs you catch them and get them to the SPCA soon. Better for all of you!

Caught the first one yesterday, a very wild cat, I was actually scared of it, there is no ways I could tame it and besides I have a cat of my own that never goes near my birds, has never even caught a wild bird, I think it's biggest achievement was a spider and a frog and oh yes a lizard, they always end up in my slipper with the cat calling me to see what it has done.

I saw the other cat early this morning watching my Canaries, I will catch it tonight if lucky, the trap I have is very humane, it is basically a cage that closes behind the cat once it enters. It has a handle to carry the cage so you do not have to worry about touching the animal and being bitten.

"'n Dooie kat is 'n goeie kat"

Marius, I think everyone would agree if they lost a whole lot of birds.

Steve

[steve]

Hi All

As expected I caught the other cat, now I can sleep again at night.

Regards
Steve

[Rox]

Glad that you caught them!! Your birds can also sleep peacefully now

[MariusStegmann]

Guys, I don't really hate cats. I just hate cats that kill my birds.

[Sally]

Guys, I don't really hate cats. I just hate cats that kill my birds.

Agreed. We have a big problem with stray cats in the U.S., because too many people don't bother to spay/neuter them. The shelters are full of cats/kittens. Living on the edge of town on a deadend street, we used to have a problem with people dumping cats/kittens out here, but for some reason, that has stopped now--thankfully. I have a bigger problem with raccoons these days.

[isobea]

Many years ago, I also used to have a problem with neighbor's cats, stray cats, raccoons, rats and mice trying to get into my aviary. Two of my birds got hurt and, just like Debbie, I installed a low voltage electric fence --- no more problems. It was just enough of a shock to teach them to stay away.
Iso