Hi Nancy,

You could capture the cat with a live trap such as a havahart
(http://www.havahart.com/nuisance/raccoon/traps_for_raccoons_1045.asp).
If the cat has a tag, contact the owners. If not, a collar with a
bell may or may not be effective -- the research is mixed, but
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/askDr/hunting.htm suggests a bell may
significantly reduce the number of birds captured. You could also
adopt the cat and teach him the "joys" of staying indoors. Or bring
him to a shelter where he will either be euthanized or relocated to
other hunting grounds. My neighbors have discouraged raccoons from
eating their pond fish by installing a motion detector that sets off
a high-powered sprinkler when the raccoons approach. That might be
modified to create some other sort of alert, such as an electric
motor that rattles some metal objects. But of course the cat will
just hunt elsewhere.

Marc Hoffman
Kirkland, WA
marc at dartfrogmedia dot com


At 07:44 AM 8/18/2007, ns johnson wrote:
>Hi, Tweeters,
>
>How do you all deal with a neighborhood hunter cat?
>One that jumps your 6 foot fence, stealthily
>approaches the shrubs near the feeders, lies in wait,
>selects his prey, attacks swiftly and makes off with a
>little passerine in his mouth. Yesterday I saw a pile
>of grey feathers in the middle of the back lawn and I
>knew he had returned for another successful theft. I
>think I know who he is but I don't know where he
>lives. A marmalade cat, he was very friendly and
>sweet before I saw him get his first of my birds and I
>started throwing rocks at him and chasing him off the
>property. Now he's a sneak and I don't see him.
>
>I have thought of netting all the shrubs he hides
>under where the little birds like to run also.
>
>Does anyone else have effective techniques?
>
>I couldn't really ever bring myself to harm him - I
>love cats and have 3 of my own who also enjoy bird
>watching from the windows as they are not allowed out.
>
>Thank you.
>Nancy Johnson
>near Echo Lake, Snohomish County
>
>
>
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