Should You Put Up a Wild Bird Feeder If Your Neighbors Have Cats?

Do garden bird feeders put the birds in danger from predators like cats? Cats aren't the only bird predators, so the more choices birds have, the easier it is for them to make safe choices of where to feed! But there are no perfect answers... For more wildlife garden tips that work, see: • Easy wildlife garden t...
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[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Some helpful comments here, especially that the lack of food is likely to cause a higher mortality than predators are.

[@mariedeyo7399]

Birds have always been there, living together with other mamals and birds and they did not die out. I myself have two cats, they go out in the garden. I feed birds all over in the garden and all year long. My cats dont go out in winter but the rest of the year. One does not care for birds at all and the other does. Mostly only for a short time in spring, If I see him, I make him leave and I dont let them out when its feeding times. But I also have bird of prey hunting in my garden. Its all part of life and every animal has its place. Even before we started to meddle. Not the cats are the sorce for birds dying out, its us , doing away with livingspace and foodsorces. So stop to blame the cat doing what comes natural to it and all work more against poison in our world and for more livingspace for wildlife. 🌻

[@Casper-we3dq]

It’s lovely to hear from a responsible cat owner, who obviously cares equally for all animals. You’re right, it’s not the cat that’s at fault, it’s the owner’s job to ensure that wildlife is considered as much as possible.

[@rockjockchick]

Thanks for the info about making sure they have shelter to take cover in. :)

[@Helen-mh8mq]

I have 3 cats.I do have 2 bird feeders and 2 areas fenced around trees and I put feed on the ground in the fenced-in areas.It is the hawks that come to my yard that are the biggest Predators!!I have lots of places for the birds to hide but the hawks are very impressive hunters!!Nature

[@alisonbwise]

👍 Could you also do a video about birdhouses? 💚

[@M-TGram]

Really helpful, thank you!

[@naturallynakednature]

Thanks for this. Great info. I have bird feeders. Only considered squirrels eating their food, so there iss a squirrel feeder as well. Never considered the threat of actual predators. Will definitely get more bird houses. I only had one, since destroyed by natural weather conditions.

[@emmalavenham]

The better bird feeders, designed to keep squirrels out, include instructions on how to site the feeders for best protection. In our case, we have sited them in a break of our border of mixed evergreen trees.

[@robinfinch314]

Now I wished I had a garden to put up some bird feeders.

[@sylviaprudhomme5417]

Like the advice❤❤

[@MargaretUK]

I don't have cats, but my garden is Piccadilly Circus for every cat in the neighbourhood 😕 I do have bird feeders though, a tall pole with a fat ball feeder hanging from it with good visibility and not too far from a hedge, and also a bird table but not a shop bought one. We made an extra high one with some wood and attached a plastic washable bird table platform to that, it's a good six feet off the ground. That isn't far from some tree branches and the birds seem to do alright. I'm not saying the cats don't ever get a bird, but the birds are pretty savvy to them and tend to keep a look out so thankfully it is rare. Our resident male blackbird goes nuts when there is a cat about so he is a good early warning system 😁 I would say that it is right to feed the birds, as I should imagine the mortality rate from lack of food is greater than from cat kills.

[@EdurtreG]

Yes, you should. In a brush with flumsy branches from where they can fly away. I dismantle old lampshades and hang the food in them: the metal stucture prevents pigeons etc from feeding, and cats can't get to them. Also hawks can not "land". To be placed very easily over those feedingpoles, a tiewrap or two does wonders.

[@rebeccadubarry8523]

Yes

[@suemowat222]

We have three cats and also bird feeders hung in a tree. Only one of the cats catches birds but only three or four a year ( I know the number because she always brings them indoors). The RSPB says it's old and ill birds that will soon die anyway that tend to get caught. In reply to the comment that cats scratch up sown seeds, I cover seedbeds with that tough plastic 2 inch mesh and that keeps the cats off. For seedlings and young plants, lay prunings or bamboo canes between the rows.

[@darenbarclay9574]

I was told by a chap that the feeders need to be sanitised regularly by Milton or such,otherwise this would poison them . He has a net in his garden to catch birds and recored whatever he needs to . He is 1 of only 5 licensed to do this in the uk

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Feeders should ideally be kept clean, but I suspect most aren't. There's no evidence to suggest that dirty feeders actually poison birds, but when diseases like bird flu are going around, then dirty feeders will pass them on more quickly.

[@RootyToot123]

My problem is with squirrels & hawks. The hawks will come right toward a hedge and literally crash into the feeder & bush. Also, the squirrels chew up the feeders from wire feeders to wood feeders to plastic feeders. So I put the feeder 10 ft from the house, 3 to 4 feet from a large shrub and don't worry further.

[@mearls242]

Thank you for this

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Thank you!

[@fionaproctor6330]

❤ I feed our birds year round and season specific with 9 bird feeders. Once in a while a hawk or falcon grab a dove but I look at it as part of the cycle. Everyone’s got to eat!

[@LauraBidingCitizen]

What food is best to put out for a variety of birds please? I’ve just moved, & next to my bungalow is almost like an overgrown forestry area (I have no neighbours that side), I have a very tall large hedge surrounding my garden & a bird feeder that I’m now going to relocate closer to the hedge. However, I’m often confused with all of the bird seed / food options. I seem to get quite an array of beautiful birds. Any advice / tips? Thanks x

[@MargaretUK]

I would put out a mix if you are able to. Seeds, fat balls and suet pellets are all good, mealworms are good too if you can afford them.

[@michaeljonesdougherty.209]

I have a bird feed station in my gardens near my sipress trees yes I have cats that come in the yard hide in my lemon grass but they don't mind the birds the birds eat when the stay cats are here at sitting under the bird feeders or bird bath .I tell the cats don't u kill my birds

[@spliffsforbreakfast]

So I’m assuming if I was to place wild bird feeders in my backyard then it would become a hub for local birds to eat. Will this also create a “bird poop problem”? Like will there be a bunch of shit I have to clean up because all the local birds just hang out in my backyard?

[@EdurtreG]

Small birds, small poops 😉

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think I agree with Esther, small birds, small poop. Yes, there is a bit of a problem, not huge, but if you put your feeder in a border or on a lawn, it will feed the lawn and you won't notice it (it's not like with dogs and cats!)

[@rockjockchick]

@@TheMiddlesizedGarden yes. Exactly. And if it became a problem you can always move it to the front or back yard or stop feeding them.

[@tonybrown7847]

I’m sure the birds don’t need any help from humans in finding food

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

I think it can get tough when the ground is very hard and frosty

[@nigeandchris1294]

I have a multi feeder but the squirrels are a pain any idea's

[@jenniferj.9973]

Get a squirrel baffle and move the feeder a few feet away from anything the squirrels can use to jump onto the feeder.

[@nigeandchris1294]

Thanks I'll try it 👍

[@jenniferj.9973]

@@nigeandchris1294 Good luck! I had to move my setup around a few times because the squirrels in my neighborhood are crafty beasts

[@mariedeyo7399]

Why not feed both? I have food and space for both and they make great cat TV behind the window. Works well.

[@nigeandchris1294]

Trouble is the squirrels eat my bulbs aswell so not a great idea cheers

[@markkubiak8296]

Get a live trap and rid your yard of them. Cats kill everything.

[@FireflyOnTheMoon]

Get rids of the cats and dogs. If you love wildlife get rid of the pets.

[@jabopy9966]

It’s not our pets it’s our neighbourhood cats that are the problem.!!

[@mariedeyo7399]

No , its a proplem thats men made. We are the ones that plant mono, we are the one that take all the space and dont leave any for wildlife, we are using poison that kills insects and plants that is not part of the mono culture. And if you have problems with cats that have been throun out like trash, then please , talk to you local shelter . Catch, spay and find a home. Thats the way to have less kitten, sick cats and problems.

[@EdurtreG]

​@@jabopy9966 partly, yes.

[@EdurtreG]

See my other comment on this video.

[@jabopy9966]

@@EdurtreG only yesterday I was clipping the lawn edges and unknowingly stepped on a buried load of cat poo! The smell followed me round for ages. At least it wasn’t in the vegetable plot (this time)

[@EdurtreG]

EVERY CATOWNER SHOULD PUT A BELL ON THER CATS IN BIRDBREEDINGSEASONS. ERGO FROM HALF APRIL TO HALF SEPTEMBER.

[@rockjockchick]

Yes. This helps.