As of: February 4, 2024, 3:19 p.m
By: Ines Alms
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Cats like to go bird stalking in gardens.
They sit at the feeder as if they were on a presentation plate.
But there are methods to ruin hunting success.
Cats are such popular pets - if only it weren't for their overwhelming interest in hunting.
They feel magically attracted to the fluttering of birds and their hopping.
Anyone who has a bird nesting box, a bird feeder or a water bowl for the animals in the garden will quickly find themselves in need.
Lying in wait yourself is not an option, but there are other effective methods to keep house cats away from the birds.
Cat bells are not a sensible measure
As the
Nature Conservation Association of Germany (NABU)
explains, cats in a natural habitat, for example wild cats, would never be able to exterminate a prey species.
But the number of strays and house cats roaming freely in settlements is so high, at around 15 million animals in Germany, that they can cause serious harm to the bird population.
Since keeping the cat as a domestic cat and having a bell on the cat's neck are not animal-friendly solutions, access to the birds must be made more difficult for the animals.
Safe location for the feeding station
According to the State Association for Bird Protection (LBV)
, the most important measure here is
to set up the feeder and watering hole at least one and a half meters away from the nearest bushes.
If a cat sneaks up on you, the birds usually have enough time to fly away.
For birds that prefer a ground feeder, special caution is required as the feeder must provide clear views from several sides.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
Even though cats are often welcome, they have no place near the birdhouse.
© Wolfram Weber/Imago
The feeder itself should either be freely hung from a branch or mounted on a post.
Both ideally at a height of at least two meters.
A smooth metal bar prevents the cat from climbing up.
If there is a tree near the feeder, you can attach a so-called cat repellent belt made of wire or a metal cuff to it.
The cat doesn't even come up the tree to look for nests, nesting boxes or suet balls.
Barbed wire is unsuitable as it can injure the cat.
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The right choice of plants keeps cats away
When creating or restructuring a garden, it is worth considering a clever choice of plants.
There are numerous types of shrubs that insects and songbirds use as a source of food and shelter, but which are repugnant to cats with their thorns or narrow thickets.
These include blackthorn, hawthorn or sea buckthorn, Pfaffenhütchen or wild roses.
Some plants such as peppermint, rue, lavender or the piss-off plant also have a repellent effect on cats with their scents - but there is no guarantee.