How To Stop Your Cat From Catching Wildlife

(photo credit: Klimek Pavol / shutterstock.com)

Those of us with indoor cats and a deck or backyard will almost certainly find it hard to curtail our feline’s natural desire to sit outside, take in some sun, and chase every leaf that blows or flutters. Mine are content to remain in their backyard and imagine they could actually catch the squirrels and birds that float in and out of their world. They couldn’t if they tried but the problem is, that once upon a time they could. And many cats are in fact stealthy hunters that can bring home their wildlife “catch” on a rather regular basis.

It's disturbing for us, can impact the ecosystem that surrounds us, and is unnecessary for the cat given they have all the food they need, sitting in a nice little bowl beside the kitchen door. They’re not hunting out of hunger but out of sport.

So, how do you prevent your cat from engaging in such predatory behavior? There are a couple of tricks that range from hampering their ability to catch prey to ensuring area wildlife is not made vulnerable to discouraging the cat’s need / desire to hunt and kill.

Eliminate Opportunities

Because felines tend to be opportunistic hunters who will pursue anything that catches their eye, it helps to know how to avoid this type of meet-up. One of the most obvious ways to prevent such encounters is to understand how and when they’re most likely to occur.

Spring and summer are prime prey seasons because baby birds are learning to fly and tend to flutter to the ground - where they’re now highly vulnerable. So, keep your cats indoors, on a leash, or consider using a cat enclosure or pen during these times of the year.

Similarly, when light levels are low during early morning and early dusk, wildlife is vulnerable because that’s when rodents and birds tend to be outside of their nests or dens, actively searching for food. The lesson here? Schedule little FiFi’s outdoor jaunts to daylight hours when you can monitor activity.

And when setting up bird feed stations, it’s recommended to keep them at least six to seven feet away from thick shrubbery where cats can hide and lay in wait. And, to invest in a no-spill bird feeder option that minimizes the seed spillover that causes birds to fly down to the ground to pick up bits and pieces.

Hamper the Element of Surprise

You may not be aware that birds actually have quite acute vision and the ability to see and differentiate various colors. Let this work in your favor by outfitting your feline with a bird-warning collar such as this option from Birdsbesafe®. No longer will your feline be able to hide and stalk with stealth because birds can see the brilliant tones in this collar from afar. Scientifically proven to work, studies from the Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management found a 61% reduction in bird kills by cats, when the collar was worn. It simply attaches to your pet’s collar to stymie his hunting success rate.

Birds are also highly attuned to sound and if you’re searching for a loud, fool-proof way to alert the bird and wildlife population to your approaching kitty, a set of extra loud cat bells is just the ticket. Made from pure copper with uniquely shaped stainless-steel clappers, this set of two lightweight bells can be heard from up to 150 feet away. Simply attach it to your cat’s collar before she heads outdoors (we’re not sure you’d want to hear her clanging throughout the house all day) and you instantly alert wildlife to her arrival.

Scratch the Itch, Not the Wildlife

Cats have a natural love of the great outdoors, and dealing with an antsy feline who wants nothing more than for you to open the slider door and let her out, gets old, real quick. So, why not scratch that itch and let her have her way? Sort of. If you’ve got a deck or back patio, investing in a quality multi-tier catio is the way to go. This three-level option from Amazon Basics gives her the opportunity to climb, jump, or simply perch and lounge as she watches the world go by. It satisfies her need to experience the sights and sounds of the outdoor world, and your need to know that wildlife remains safe.

Likewise when camping or dealing with a smaller outdoor footprint, an option like this mesh cat enclosure is a great solution. It’s lightweight, packs up tight for easy transport and includes a fully ventilated tunnel so your feline doesn’t feel crated or restricted to one small space. She gets to experience the joy of wilderness (or backyard) living, from the safety of her own little world. When you’re camping or away from home, this type of easy-to-set-up enclosure helps ensure your cat is within sight, enjoying the surroundings, and yet, unable to capture roaming chipmunks or birds.

Feed Her Predator Instinct

That fluffball curled up beside you is in fact a natural-born predator with an innate urge to hunt and kill. That it’s no longer required for her survival doesn’t matter – it’s the thrill of the catch she’s after. While you may think active play that resembles the capture of birds and rodents is akin to training her, it actually meets these needs and helps alleviate her desire to pursue them outdoors. In fact, you can satisfy this need for mental and physical stimulation by investing in toys that act as an outlet and resemble the stalk, pounce, capture, and kill instinct she embodies.

Particularly for younger cats with unlimited energy levels, something that gets her leaping and bounding in a bid to tire her out is the way to go and I love this cat ball launcher for that. It comes with 30 small plush balls that allow her to chomp down and cart around something soft and fuzzy – emulating the kill and recovery stage. But it’s the launcher that can shoot each ball up to 15 feet that will tackle her need to jump and catch. It’s the perfect option for the high-energy feline that needs an outlet.

Almost every cat craves the opportunity to crouch and hide - hence the popularity of cat caves these days. And offering the opportunity to stalk something that looks and moves like a real live bird can go a long way in addressing her inherent need to capture something – anything – and tote it around for all to see. Now, can we all agree that playing with our cats is fun yet playing for longer than 20 minutes can become a little tedious? That’s where this motion-activated cat toy steps up to take over. It’s plush – so it has a perfect feel in the mouth, it charges – so no batteries involved, and it chirps and flaps its wings at various speed levels to draw your cat’s attention. And here’s what I love. It’s motion activation begins the chirp/flap process the moment she touches it. With a charge that can last for days. Yes, days, depending on how often she engages. It’s a playful way for her to burn off energy and display her hunting prowess.

So plan to save wildlife without stifling your feline's natural instincts.