Catwatch

[2520years]

Hi everyone.

We have a 6' fence at the bottom of our garden, that runs into next door's on both sides. I call it a fence, but the local cats call it a motorway.

The cats have now worked out that if they jump down and hide under our conifers the birds feeding in our garden will be pretty close. I saved a starling the other day, but a robin didn't make it and was presented to the cat's owner as a gift.

I bought a Catwatch, as endorsed by the RSPB, so I'm hoping someone on here has got one and found it works.

I've placed ours in three different places so far (two on the ground and one at fence height) but it doesn't seem to be detecting the cats. When I go out there its red light comes on, so it's obviously detecting my body heat, but nothing happens when the cats pass by.

Can anyone offer any advice? I think there must be at least half a dozen cats that think they own my garden, especially judging by the little presents they leave behind (didn't cats used to bury their poos!?)

Thanks in advance.

Andrew

[deborah4]

Mum bought one and placed it near the garden pond - 10 dead frogs in past few weeks, doesn't seem to have worked. Full sympathies, I have much the same situation. Ive planted Holly, prickly climbing roses etc at the foot of the fence/wall. I've also 'cultivated' thick Ivy growth all along 'motorway' which has deterred them (well it did til neighbour hacked most of it down!) it's hard to be 'furtive' padding through that lot. I also placed all feeders away from foliage/trees and birdtable smack in middle of garden and away from any groundcover (don't suffer sparrowhawks fortunately but if you do probably not a good idea). Cat patrol has been reduced from 4-5 down to one fairly persistent bu**er over past few years. (Mum's resorted to saucepans of water, garden hose and high blood pressure)

Cat's seem to bury poo unless they are deliberately trying to stake a territorial claim (or using a cat litter tray!)

[2520years]

I've cemented our bird feeder below the grass, so it's tricky to move, but I might have to bite the bullet. We've only seen one Sparrowhawk in seven years so we're not too worried about the threat from above.

What's strange is that the cats don't even seem to trigger the device.

[iveljay]

Our neighbourhood has had a recent increase in cat activity and no one seems to have totally cracked the problem.

We have two large and hairy cat deterrents, both watch but generally otherwise ignore birds.

Blackbird and robin fledglings are sometimes mildly investigated when initially ground feeding but parents just lead them through a conveniently placed iron gate by the feeders so no risk of being trodden on. The dogs are averse to cats, house mice, squirrels and not fond of wood pigeons.

We have one tit box currently occupied in their patch - the adults ignore them and this year we have even got song thrushes braving the area (though only when the dogs have wandered off) looking for food. Last year they wouldn't risk it and stayed in the front of our house and risked the cats (poor choice).

Also in much demand is their hair for nesting material! Beak loads are carried off daily.

Trouble is their running costs are higher than the mechanical variety and when young will attempt to chase until educated. Unfortunately smaller and livelier dogs seem very difficult to train as they are bred for their hunting instinct. In over 30 years we have only had one bird fatality - a wood pigeon with a young dog. As ever its largely down to the owners whether a dog is a bird asset or a ***** nuisance.

Our biggest bird killer hasn't been identified from all the local possibilities but for two years bits of blackbird have dropped from somewhere high up in one of our trees. Possibly sparrow hawk or merlin as both have been seen, unlikely to be one of the prolific buzzards as they stay over the downs and fields.

N.B. The dogs don't trust toads and frogs and are very reluctant to go out in the breeding season when they mass, but other than a quick sniff they leave well alone.

Best of luck with your problem as even our beasts cannot patrol all the time and the occasional cat gets close to the birds. Also not really a viable small town garden solution.

P.S. Perhaps the buzzards might be persuaded to .... no an evil thought for which I apologise and they have plenty of rabbits anyway!

J

[2520years]

I've put the catwatch on top of the fence itself now. I don't know yet if it's scaring the cats away, but I don't see how they'll be able to get past it without falling of the fence. I'll keep watching to see what happens.