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Post by Catbird on Sept 28, 2004 23:08:44 GMT 10
I have found out why the lutino hen abandonded her nest .. and why now the platnium has left hers ... nextdoor's bloody cats!!!
They sit at either end of the aviary and chase the birds back and forward. I caught them in the act last night. The Platnium has laid another egg today, but she isn't sitting. Last night I brought in the eggs and put them in the brooder to keep them warm. The male is still siting during the day. I've left them in there tonight as I don't want to disturb her more and I hope she will go back in.
This is the first time I have had problems with cats. And I know from other's stories its a near impossible situation to win. We have two cats of our own, but neither go outside, at all. I am wondering if it is the quail that are attracting the cats and if removing them might help?
The lutino's eggs look like they might be DIS as they have now sustained more chilling and probably a bit of a thrashing from the hens rushing out of the box. I've got them in the brooder anyway just in case they do pull through.
Thanks for letting me vent my feelings ... any suggestions on how to deter the cats would be great. I don't want to hurt them and I don't want to cause grief with my neighbour either. If it were the Rocks nest it'd be a whole different story!!
Claire
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Post by AussieBirds on Sept 28, 2004 23:19:54 GMT 10
The best way to deter cats is with a bottle of turps liberally applied on their bum they just dont come back. Dont get me wrong I have three cats my self so it's not as if i hate cats but unfortunatly Birds and Cats dont mix so one of them has to go. I lost a Rosa Bourke because of night fright from a cat, not one of mine, and I am going to get a cat cage and catch the cat and take it to the pound, If you have cats keep them inside. [glow=red,2,300]John[/glow] ![]() img.villagephotos.com/p/2004-9/827117/sm021.gif[/img] |
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Post by parrotpotential on Sept 28, 2004 23:24:58 GMT 10
Oh Claire, I don't really know what to say other than I'm sorry about it all. We've never had a serious problem with cats so I really don't know what to suggest. Big hugs to you.
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Post by josiedownunda on Sept 29, 2004 8:11:41 GMT 10
Claire,
So sorry to hear of your dilemma. I think your best solution would be to approach your neighbours and explain your problem.......not sure how you can say it without upsetting them...sounds like they are not responsible cat owners so they won't care. It could be a case of they do not realise what is happening and if you tell them they may be more than willing to lock them up.
There are products available that are supposed to deter cats and dogs from gardens and such.....one I know of is called 'Get of my Garden'. You sprinkle this jelly like crystals around and they hate the odour.
Ever thought of buying a mean dog that hates cats!!LOL...sorry it isn't a laughing matter I know but my dog is great for keeping unwanted cats out.
Jo-Anne
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Post by Catbird on Sept 29, 2004 21:04:31 GMT 10
Thanks for the kind words guys. No they are definately not responsible. Since we've been here their cats have had four litters of kittens! But they are finally desexed. I think talking to them will get a lot of sincere appologies, but not much action. Don't get me wrong they're really nice and we get along well, which is why I don't want to cause any animosity. I opened the lutinos eggs to day, and as I thought all DIS at about 2 weeks, so they probably died last week when the lutino went off her nest. It was worth a try. I've got some of that 'Get of my garden' spray, it works but doesn't last long. I will invest in some of the granules. To make matters work they have started construction on the lot over the fence - lots of big trucks and heavy machinery. I doubt I'll get anything down this year now .... but I haven't lost faith!! The earth works should only take 6 weeks, and after that perhaps we can get back to business!  |
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Post by Zack on Sept 30, 2004 14:50:31 GMT 10
Catbird, Sorry to hear about your eggs. I used to have problems with cats at my parents place years ago. Not that we didn't like cats but we just didn't like them trying to eat my birds. Dad had a water pistol that he filled with ammonia, that sent them running. The only trick is you have to get within firing distance. Hope you have some luck soon. Jo-Anne I agree about a good dog. My dog actually goes out of his way to protect my tiels. A few weeks ago a magpie was attempting to attack my tiels. My dog raced to the rescue, scaring off the magpie. He then doubled back to make sure both the tiels were ok. Cats don't dare venture in our yard because of the dog. The five eggs my pair were sitting on are hatching!! Pretty exciting as I've never bred tiels before. 2 so far with a 3rd in the process. All 5 were fertile though so touch wood nothing went wrong!! Karen  |
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Post by hillcresttiels on Sept 30, 2004 16:30:57 GMT 10
Hi Catbird it's very disappointing when these things happen, i think you will remember we had a discussion regarding the control of cats on another forum not long ago and i took a hard approach to irresponible owners. if your cats are inside during the night i would resort to local shire or council cat traps and have them captured and sent to the pound you'll find owners become more responsible after paying to get their cats back from the pound but carefull not to trod on neighbours toes chin up :'(Frank
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Post by AussieBirds on Sept 30, 2004 19:34:13 GMT 10
I agree with you 100% Frank, I am a responsible cat owner and i expect other people to be the same. If they can't keep thier cats under control then they should pay for them.
[glow=red,2,300]John[/glow]
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Post by pollyparrot on Oct 1, 2004 6:24:12 GMT 10
thats so sad sorry to hear that clair cant u dob them into the council for all the kittens not sure if there is a lway against breeding constantly
i have 4 cats but they are locked up at night and dont bother birds as they are too well fed
hope things work out ok
do u have a dog that will scare the cats off
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Post by billspets on Oct 1, 2004 7:58:27 GMT 10
sorry to hear about your problem with cat i know how you feel i have the same problem
you try and aproch the owners and there thing is is isnt my cat doing it the only thing i can recommend is trap them and that is about all you can do dont you like the laws if a dog goes in there yard after the cats and one dies of shook and someone sees it the dog is taken away and put down but a cat can stalk a bird in a cage at night to a point that the bird takes night flight and brakes its neck and you can catch the cat and hand it to the pound and all thay do is give it back to the owners if thay come for it
go figer because carnt
regards
bill
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Post by Catbird on Oct 1, 2004 23:20:58 GMT 10
Hey Guys, The cats probably won't be a problem anymore. We had an inspector come to our house to check it for cracks because they are about to commence compacting in the paddocks that runs either side of our street. The west paddock is right against our fence. The surveyor has told me that I will probably have to move my birds because the compacting is going to go on for weeks. Does anyone have any experience with this sort of thing? How much disturbance can I expect? Will I have to move my birds (right in the bloody middle of breeding season!)? Honestly - someone give me a break here!!  ... ha ha ha |
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Post by hillcresttiels on Oct 2, 2004 8:03:43 GMT 10
Hi Claire i'm in the building game and if they are going to be using big rollers then it might be a problem with any eggs you have in the nest as there is a lot of vibration probably wise to move if you can :-/cheers Frank
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eckie
Bronze Member
Posts: 223
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Post by eckie on Oct 13, 2004 16:38:39 GMT 10
hi
sorry to hear about the bad cats you have next door.
i have a cat and it doesnt go near the aviary
not sure that it even knows the aviary is there
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Post by Catbird on Oct 13, 2004 22:15:03 GMT 10
Just to update. One of the cats found a new home so there's one less I have to contend with. And so far the birds seem to be ok with the construction, I have placed shadecloth over the end facing the machinery activities.
The W/f pair are on another nest now, and I'm just letting them do their thing. I don't want to upset the hen more if she is likely to be jumpy.
2nd time lucky maybe!
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Post by kim1 on Oct 29, 2004 14:39:58 GMT 10
We had the exact same problem, we talked about approaching the neighbour but decided that if we did that and they chose to do nothing we would be stuck, as if the cat went missing the neighber would then blame us.sounds horrid I know but we got a council cat trap and caught the cat and took it to the pound, the final straw came when I found the cat had caught my cocketiel hen and tried to pull it through the wire. Sorry cat lovers but I hate cats, after breeding show guinea pigs and finding them in peices all over the yard I don't muck around with cats, I keep my animals secured at night and expect the same courtosy from my neighbers.
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Post by billspets on Oct 29, 2004 14:53:58 GMT 10
hello kim
i also am not a fan of the cat as ii lost a cinomon pearl whiteface because of cats stalking the birds at night
and i am sick and tied of cat owners that dont give a crap about what there cats are doing eg stalking birds
also i am sinck and tiered of paying regestration on my dog as well as pay $60 per year for a licence to keep Australin native birds yet you dont have to for a cat
if a dog barks aggessivly at a cat or a person it can be put down but if a cat stalkes a birs thay do nothing
regards
bill
well i have had my winge for today LOL
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Post by Zack on Oct 29, 2004 16:08:40 GMT 10
Hi Bill and Kim,
I tend to agree with you both. I must admit that I used to have a cat, but luckily he was the most well behave cat and only caught mice. Plus he was locked up at night which I have to add is what they have made law., well in Vic anyway.
If someones cat is caught in a trap they have no excuses as the owners should have had it indoors in the first place.
Kazz
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Post by Catbird on Oct 29, 2004 18:53:11 GMT 10
Hi Kim,
Its so hard to know what to do. We haven't had problems with the cats since they sold one of them (the trouble maker!). The ond across the road still comes over and the owner has given me permission to use whatever force necessary to deter her.
We have two cats, and we keep ours inside because I think its the right thing to do. But I can't tell our neighbours what they should and shouldn't do. All seems ok for now.
Just going to go out and check the whiteface nest now for pipping. If they are fertile they should be hatching any day now!
- Claire
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Post by kim1 on Oct 29, 2004 18:58:09 GMT 10
I forgot to mention that we solve the problem with most problem cats by filling water bombs with water and citreonella oil and putting them in the fridge, at night the kids have fun throwing them at the cats, one hit and most never come back, unfortunately the cat I mentioned even resisted this.
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Post by Catbird on Oct 29, 2004 19:17:35 GMT 10
ha ha ha Kim! I'm sure we could arange that!  |
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... ha ha ha