The cat isn't ungrateful, it's just following its predatory instincts which unfortunately means that if let outside to roam freely, then it will be hunting, regardless of how well fed it already is. The bird would have bee helped much more by not having been put in danger in the first place.
Bells really don't work, as a cat with a bell can still sneak up on a bird. A solution I've found that works is to have an outdoor cat enclosure. I'm sure with some creativity it's possible to DIY one, but I purchased mine and it has been a great investment. My 2 cats can sit out on the patio and enjoy the stimulation of the garden without any danger to them or to the wildlife that I've attracted to the yard. They are otherwise exclusively indoor cats. For anyone who is curious, this is where I purchased mine: https://www.cdpets.com/Products_Detail.php?ProductID=5. There are many other options and manufacturers available that can be found, this is just one example that I found was sufficient for my needs. Here's an action photo from my patio (including a 3rd cat who is no longer with us.) It's the 4' height economy enclosure from the link above. http://www.pbase.com/gymell/image/148564406 > On Mon, Sep 9, 2013 at 2:47 PM, Frank Gosiak <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I woke to a nice day Saturday and sat down outside, on my patio, with my >> ipad and was writing a friend about the birds I saw and heard. I had >> Chickadee, Tennessee Warbler, Red Start, White and Red Breasted >> Nuthatch, >> Red Bellied-Downy-Hairy Woodpecker, Goldfinch, House Finch, Robin, House >> Sparrow, Crow, Blue Jay, Red Shouldered Hawk, Bald Eagle, Canada Geese, >> Mallard, Starling, Chipping Sparrow, Blue Jay, Blue Bird, Catbird, Ruby >> Throated Hummingbird, Cedar Waxwing, and a few unidentified Warblers. I >> was >> kinda romanticizing, telling my friend how so few of us notice all that >> goes >> on around us and how we get caught up in other things. I wrote about the >> insects, trees, and even the grass and the weeds and how they all >> interact. >> About the time I was getting lost in the moment I heard a nasty screech >> sound. I looked down and there was the Catbird in my cat Molly's mouth. >> The >> bird was struggling, to no avail, and the cat was trying to set its >> claws >> in >> for a better hold. I jumped up, yelled at the cat and stepped on its >> tail. >> The cat let out a scream, thus, releasing the bird which flew to a near >> by >> bush and chattered. I watched the cat move to a spot on the patio then >> laid >> down swishing its tail showing anger. The cat had a few feathers in its >> mouth and a couple fell to the ground. I ended my letter to my friend >> saying >> the bird probably doesn't realize I helped it and that ungrateful, well >> fed, >> fur bearing cat will be getting a bell on its collar. I like my cat but >> I >> need to take every precaution to keep it from killing the birds. >> > -- Liz Stanley Bloomington, MN [email protected] Backyard weather and feedercam: http://www.overlookcircle.org/ Photo gallery: http://www.pbase.com/gymell/liz_favorites Follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lizmstanley ---- Join or Leave mou-net: http://lists.umn.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=mou-net Archives: http://lists.umn.edu/archives/mou-net.html
