We have a pair of Blackbirds who return to our garden and herald Spring’s arrival. Every morning and evening we enjoy their sweet song.A couple of years ago they built a nest in one of our bushes. We watched the nest taking shape and thrilled when she laid three eggs at eye level. We were even able to watch the babies hatch and begin to grow.
Then one morning they were gone – a cat had got to her nest and killed them. Our hearts were broken for our little friend.
I posted this blog two years ago but as it is spring and baby birds are vulnerable to predators I thought it timely to re-blog my thoughts.
I don’t hate cats, I have been owned by several in my life, but I do hate what they do when allowed to roam free, especially at night.
First some small scale peeves against cats. I hate to have to sweep the mulch back onto the garden every morning because someone’s cat is allowed to roam at night. I hate it especially because the cat has piddled in my garden, killing the third lot of plants and it stinks each morning I walk out the door.
Further up the scale, I got so angry if I had caught the cat I may have throttled it; this time the cat killed the three baby blackbirds in my camellia bush. Now I know in Australia blackbirds are not native, but we had been enjoying the parents’ songs and became very attached to them. We were overjoyed they nested in our bush at eye level where we could check on their progress every day. That is until the blasted cat came along.
Now for the off the scale doings of cats, and this is what I really want cat owners to think long and hard about. Uncontrolled domestic cats can go feral. I found the graphic below on Facebook. It clearly shows the harm cats do to our wildlife – and that is just lizards and insects. Feral cats catch and kill birds, fish, and even small native mammals.
Please, train your cat to use a litter box so it doesn’t have to go outside into your garden, or the neighbour’s, to do its business.
If you feel your cat needs some fresh air and exercise, buy it a lead and collar and go for a walk with it. I did it with my Burmese cat, Sultan. We had wonderful walks together and made many new friends who didn’t know a cat would walk on a lead.
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| Sultan going for a walk |
Why did you buy the cat in the first place? Because it was a cute and cuddly kitten and the kids nagged you?
Now the kids are bored, and no one wants to look after the cat so you let it roam and find food elsewhere. If you are not committed to a fully mature cat that will live for 15 years you should not have one.
Is your cat desexed? Did you know that one cat and her mate together, and through their offspring, can produce over 11 million offspring? This is based on each female giving birth to 2.8 kittens twice a year. Scary isn’t it?
When you are next tempted to buy a cute kitten because the kids are crying for it, please consider the responsibilities not just to the cat but to local wildlife and neighbours’ gardens.
Please share if you agree with me.
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