Save songbirds by modifying cats’ behaviour

✒ WITH spring in the air, Cats Protection and Songbird Survival have teamed up to offer advice on the best ways to help reduce hunting of songbirds by pet cats in the hope of protecting the threatened population.

A survey of 1,000 cat-owners, conducted by Songbird Survival, revealed almost half (46%) aren’t aware of ways to reduce cat predation.

Hunting is a natural behaviour for cats. Not all cats hunt and it generally reduces as they age. However, just a few simple strategies can protect birds and benefit your cat’s welfare too.

Spring is a particularly vulnerable time for songbirds, the nesting and breeding season, which runs up to July as they gather materials to make nests and fledglings begin to leave.

It’s important to protect songbird populations from decline, and cat-owners and bird-lovers alike can make a big difference by putting up nest boxes as well as not using pesticides in their gardens.

Here are some top tips for reducing hunting:

Play with your cat for five to 10 minutes every day, as it allows them to exhibit their natural hunting behaviour and reduces their motivation to seek out prey. Pick out a toy that mimics prey movement, such as a fishing-rod toy.

Feed cats with a premium, meat-rich food, as it’s been scientifically shown to reduce hunting tendencies.

Keep cats in at night to help songbird populations and to reduce the chances of your cat being involved in a road traffic accident.

For further advice, please visit Songbird Survival’s Get EduCated campaign at songbirdsos.org/get-educated or Cats Protection’s website at www.cats.org.uk/gardenand-outdoors

Nicky Trevorrow Cats Protection Behaviour

Manager Susan Morgan CEO of Songbird Survival