Beware of the cat!

The RSPB’s figures suggest that at least 27m birds are killed by cats each year in the UK (along with 100-200m other animals….a wide range but I suppose it can only be a guestimate).
I also remember reading some research that showed for every bird that a cat brings home as a ‘present’, the cat has left 10 dead birds out in the wild.
There are now approximately 11m domestic cats in the UK (and approx 13m dogs….but don’t get me started on that one!!!)

Jim,

After owning cats for thirty years I reckon am an expert on their behaviour not being big-headed of course. The first two I owned were both ferals and twin sisters, one was a killer and in her very short life of eighteen months took the lives of at a dozen birds in my garden and neighbours, she would have continued but was catnapped by a gang from another county for a laboratory etc it doesn't bare thinking about!!!  Her sister was the exact opposite she wasn't a killer but certainly liked stalking and on her seventeen years did kill a few but mainly brought them in the house to play with, I would get them and place in the hedge . 

Had several cats after that and most didn't kill but again liked stalking like their bigger cousins.

My last cat who died in 2021 also enjoyed stalking she caught at least a dozen Wood Mice but wasn't fast enough to get many birds.

There are three cats visit my garden every day and most stalk birds but am yet to see any with a bird and as you know I get plenty. The Sparrowhawk gets more birds than all the cats put together. I have used numerous water pistols in the past aiming for the cats, okay they go away but return later or next day. Years ago tried a catapult, that didn't work. Tried throwing stones etc that didn't work. 

My advice is let the birds deal with their arch enemy themselves that way you won't be out of pocket or pull a muscle throwing something at them. 

If they find themselves getting bullied by the moggies they could always send for my pal Everard the Eagle who lives up north , am sure an email asking for help would prompt him to fly to their rescue like he did the sparrows back in the 1990s (this was a story i wrote for my tutor).

Good luck mate!

Toodle loo
Max

Unfortunately, this cat seems to have discovered a patch of habitat adjacent to Thorpe Park golf course, Humberston, where robins, wrens, dunnocks and other songbirds like to nest.

My guess is that it might be staying for summer with occupiers of one of the adjacent static caravans. It looks like it means business.

I'm pondering whether to buy a water pistol, but I don't want the Cats Protection League (or  the pet's owners) on my case.

The dilemmas of being a birder.. .