Bird friendly gardens

A range of relatively simple measures can be recommended which could help to reduce the risk of cats catching garden birds, especially where food is being put out for birds.

Bird friendly gardens:

• Where cats are a problem, avoid putting food on the ground, but use a bird table where cats cannot reach it.
• Place feeders high off the ground but away from surfaces from which a cat could jump.
• Place spiny plants (such as holly) or an uncomfortable surface around the base of the feeding station to prevent cats sitting underneath it.
• Place an upturned tin or cone underneath the table to prevent cats from climbing the post (squirrel baffles are already commercially available).
• Make the table-stand slippery using a metal post, or plastic bottles around non-metal posts.
• Plant wildlife-friendly vegetation, such as prickly bushes and thick climbers in the garden to provide secure cover for birds. These should be close enough to where birds feed to provide cover, but not so close that cats can use it to stalk birds. See RSPB leaflets on Feeding garden birds, Gardening with wildlife, and Planting gardens for birds for more information. This kind of planting may also provide food and nesting sites.
• Position nest boxes where cats cannot reach them or sit close to them (preventing the parent birds from getting to the box).
• Cat deterrents such as ultrasonic devices and strong-smelling repellents are available. The effectiveness of these is probably variable, and there is little scientific evidence of their effectiveness. Some are also quite expensive. However, many people tell us that they have achieved good results with some of these techniques, so it must remain a matter of individual choice whether to use them or not.   

Source: Cats and garden birds wildlife information leaflet (2002)