pesty cats to the bird table

[bird lady]

this lunch time I saw one of my robins in the garden so chopped up some cheese and left on the bird table outside the kitchen window only to find 5 minutes later a black cat sitting on the bird table enjoying the cheese or bacon fat! Hence once I saw the cat it was not there long!!

[Morgannon]

I didn't know Cats liked cheese, though one of our local annoyances has taken a liking to peanuts, odd fellow.

[Hazelnuts]

this lunch time I saw one of my robins in the garden so chopped up some cheese and left on the bird table outside the kitchen window only to find 5 minutes later a black cat sitting on the bird table enjoying the cheese or bacon fat! Hence once I saw the cat it was not there long!!

Hi Bird Lady

Yes, that is one of the hazards of feeding birds. Domestic animals like to eat cheese of the ground feeders if they get a chance. All animals can!
Dogs do to, as they eat anything anyway as they are just greedy.

I think with undesired animals, a couple of douses with cold water from the hose pipe will make them think twice about trying it again.

[Lizzielady]

Hi Bird Lady

I think with undesired animals, a couple of douses with cold water from the hose pipe will make them think twice about trying it again.
If you can get to the hose fast enough:D

[Nature__Lover]

I have two cats, myself, and whenever I put grated cheese out for the wrens and robins, they eat it. So i have now got very high up hanging feeders, which does the trick.

It is very odd, since cats are in act lactose intolerant.. but we all know... animals including ourselves don't always know what is best for them - (like hedgehogs with bread and milk!)

Cats HATE citrus. Maybe there is something that wouldn't deter or harm birds that could deter cats...? maybe lemon or orange peel (or zest) around the bird table or something? not sure what the birds would think though. Also tin foil is supposed to deter cats.

[Nature__Lover]

Oh and also they HATE vinegar ...

[Nature__Lover]

NOT RECOMMENDED:
*** chili powder, red crushed pepper, cayenne pepper (NOT recommended), it gets on the cat's paws then they wash themselves and they get it in their eyes, beware cats have literally scratched their eyes out because of this. Even if it's one cat out of 500 infected in this way, that's one too many for me.

*** Don't ever use mothballs or flakes. Those little toxic waste pellets destroy cats' kidney function, could seriously harm people who handle them, and yes, contaminate your own garden soil. Their packaging even warns against using them this way.