Most cat owners have probably encountered it at some point: entering a room to discover a dead bird on the rug as a small gift from their furry buddy. Although it is in their nature to hunt and collect, like many of us, you may have been little appalled that your cat had been so cruel and wondered what to do if your cat kept killing birds. Cats weren’t kept as pets in the past, thus owners didn’t feed them, which forced cats to hunt and kill birds to survive.
Do cats now intentionally murder birds for fun? Yes, they will become delighted at the sound of a bird fluttering, and their innate desire will be to pursue it. However, as they are probably well-fed at home, they might choose to play with their prey instead of eating it. We’ve put together a few useful strategies that can work to stop cats from hunting birds in the future if you’re a bird enthusiast and are wondering how to stop cats killing birds in your garden.
Put a bell onto your cat’s collar
Make it clear that your pet is around as one of the greatest strategies to keep cats away from birds. Any birds can be warned of your cat’s presence and given the chance to flee to safety by placing a little bell on the cat’s collar.
Occupy them with an interactive toy
Giving your cat something else to concentrate on can help them from chasing birds. This can be helped by an interactive object that keeps them engaged, like a puzzle toy with a treat at the end.
Change to a food with a high meat content
Others may kill a bird to consume it, while some cats will catch a bird to leave on the porch. If this appears to be the case, switching to cat food with a high meat content can significantly reduce this tendency.
Play with your cat every day
You should ponder the issue, “Why do cats kill birds?” When cats are bored or unable to act on their natural inclinations, they will occasionally hunt. Playing with them frequently in order to exhaust them can be beneficial in this situation. Giving them cat toys to pursue will also be helpful because it will give them the appearance that they are hunting and catching a smaller animal.
Introduce your cat to catnip
A cat’s senses can be greatly enhanced with catnip, which can help to replace the excitement that they might experience when hunting and killing a bird.
Plan when you let your cat out
Avoid allowing your cat outside an hour before and an hour after sundown because this is when birds are most vulnerable. If you allow it, your cat will probably be out hunting around this period because birds tend to be more active after inclement weather.
Raise your bird table
You might not think that raising your bird table will make a difference because cats are so agile. Your cat won’t be able to grasp the post tightly enough to climb it, though, if you coat it with lubricant like vaseline. It will also be beneficial to keep the bird table away from fences and trees so that the birds have nothing to hop from and onto.
Spay or neuter your cat
By keeping your cat closer to your house and away from any birds that they might be pursuing in the park, spaying or neutering can help to minimize the extent of your cat’s territory.
