Forum home› Talkback
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Talkback: More on cats

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
Having a cat has it's good side and draw backs, Since the death of my beloved "Sam" the garden has been a safe haven for all the nesting birds and their young but I am now over run with Mice, not so bad and Rats, not so good. I also have to put up with the neighbours cats now,(luckily too old to catch my birds.)
«13456

Posts

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    how can i stop cats doing the toilet in my garden with out spending money.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have a beautiful cat who I have to say has yet to catch a bird - she does bring me in the odd worm or baby frog but so far these have managed to survive the savages of her jaw! I am not looking forward to her catching birds and just hope she proves to be inadequate at such a sport.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have 3 cats & are not a problem, sometimes 1 of them catches the odd bird, but the others are so layed back they can't be bothered waisting the energy. My problem is next doors cats, they kill alot of birds, mess in my garden, & have taken to hunting frogs from my pond. I have now bought a water pistol to frighten them & hopefully they will get the message!!! So I do simpathise with people who have problems with cats, but as I said "get a water pistol". It doesn't hurt them & it's very funny seeing the shock on their faces as they don't know where it's come from.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I bought a Sonic cat scarer about 6 weeks ago and it works a treat... Haven't had a cat doing its business in the back garden for about a month now... However the buggers still come in the front garden... Solution??? I am going to buy another one... Best 20 quid I spent for ages...
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    We have two cats and live next door to an avid bird watcher,no less than four birdfeeders. Strangley our cats somehow know a bird next door is not fair game and have never even tried to catch one in ten years, but if one lands in our garden watch out.I must say though the gardens are only the size of a garage so I suppose no hiding place might have something to do with it.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    we have a cat and unfortunatley she misunderstood the saying 'you don't poo on your own doorstep'! What can i do to stop this?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Our cat has always been discouraged from catching birds, if he even starts watching them we tell him, and on the odd occasions he has caught something we have made it quite clear we aren't impressed. As regard to cats toileting in the garden, citrus fruit peel works, lemons, grapefruits and oranges for some reason really offend cats and they won't go near!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have two ginger toms who tend to do their business in our garden if the soil has recently been turned. However, I've found that putting plenty of chicken manure pellets down makes the place smell so bad to their noses that they either start using the indoor litter tray again, or else do it elsewhere (don't want to know which neighbour is getting the bounty of their generousity!!) It also makes the soil (quite clayish) much more fertile for the plants.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    A cat will hunt - it is in it's nature no matter how well fed it is. It is not a natural situation - cats are fed - if they were not an entirely different balance would exist. There would be far fewer cats because only the very good hunters would survive. Birds are at a huge disadvantage. Whatever happened to the great old idea of putting a bell around a cat's neck? At least the birds then have a chance.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Up until this year my gorgeous ball of fluff seemed to be too timid to even think about catching anything more than a ball of paper I had lovingly scrunched up for him. This was just a settling in period it seems, as we had just moved. Now, as my cat flap opens both ways (possibly soon to be outward opening only!!) I find that I have rescued 3 voles at unseemly hours of the morning (one didn't survive the shock) and am now subject to what can only be described as "innards" left on my floor.


    The birds I feed are very much on the up. I have regular blue, great, coal and long tail tits and green, gold, chaff and bull finches. All seem to be eating me out of house and home (of which I'm grateful).
    Thankfully the ball of fluff has abstained from the birds (or is it more to do with the fact that he is pure white and they sit and laugh at his attempts).


    Either way I love him and respect all wild life. I will always try and save the "presents" he brings me, but in the end try and think about all the seed the little mammals eat from the bird feeders when there is nothing else on the ground and wonder if that is what is meant by "offsetting"

Sign In or Register to comment.