Dear Editor
With spring within the air, Cats Protection and Songbird Survival have teamed as much as supply recommendation on the very best methods to assist cut back searching of songbirds by pet cats within the hope of defending the threatened inhabitants.
A survey of 1,000 cat homeowners, carried out by Songbird Survival, revealed almost half of cat homeowners (46%) aren’t conscious of the way to cut back cat predation.
Hunting is a pure, innate behaviour for cats and so they really feel pushed to do it. Not all cats hunt and it typically reduces as they age. However, just some easy methods can defend birds and profit your cat’s welfare too.
Spring is a very vulnerable time for songbirds as we’re within the nesting and breeding season, which runs as much as July as they collect supplies to make nests and fledglings begin to go away their nests.
It’s necessary to guard songbird populations from decline and cat homeowners and chook lovers alike could make a giant distinction by placing up nest bins in addition to not utilizing pesticides of their gardens.
Top suggestions for decreasing searching:
- Play together with your cat for 5-10 minutes daily because it permits them to exhibit their pure searching behaviour and reduces their motivation to hunt out prey. Pick out a toy that mimics prey motion – similar to a fishing-rod toy
- Feed cats with a premium, meat-rich meals because it’s been scientifically proven to cut back searching tendencies
- Keep cats in at evening to assist songbird populations and to cut back the possibilities of your cat being concerned in a highway visitors accident.
For additional recommendation, please go to Songbird Survival’s Get EduCated marketing campaign at https://songbirdsos.org/get-educated or Cats Protection’s web site at www.cats.org.uk/garden-and-outdoors
Yours faithfully,
Nicky Trevorrow, Cats Protection Behaviour Manager
Susan Morgan, CEO of Songbird Survival
