I think the building of a cat run a great idea for people worried about
their cats. I house my cats at night in the garden shed and have been
thinking of trying to extend it with a daytime run area.... one day.
While one cat is past hunting (she even used to watch the bandicoots eating
her dinner in days gone by) and the other one far too silly (the doves
yesterday where doing their little mating type dance right in front of her)
my neighbours cats are devoted bird hunters. I have a very bird friendly
tree in my front yard and I was wondering if I put a plastic band (similar
to the possum discouragers used in Melbourne parks) around the tree whether
it would prevent the cats climbing up to the birds?? I guess then the
possums couldn't use it either?? For now, I guess I'll just keep using the
squirting hose pipe to discourage them.
An alternative to building a cat run would be to buy a large aviary that
could be made into a comfortable abode. My parents neighbour runs a cat
refuge and she uses an outside aviary -minus the birds of course! -for her
kittens to play and socialise in.
I have volunteered at an animal shelter in the past and they had a large
outdoor cat run with up to 12 cats living in (some of them long-term
residents) and they all seemed happy as pigs in mud. Far, far happier and
content than their doggy counterparts in their runs. The cats main
priority seemed to be a cosy spot to spend the time snoozing. What with
toys, big cushions and scratching posts it all seemed like moggy heaven.
Cheers
Karen, Hampton VIC.
Birding-Aus is on the Web at
www.shc.melb.catholic.edu.au/home/birding/index.html
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