Cats !!!

[Budgie_Smugglers]

Finally decided to keep finches. I got a nice temporary aviary with a sheltered section from a nice fellow member. Ok so im drving home with my new collection ( gouldians, emblemas, stars, sea greens ) nice and early, excited and thinking everything I've been told to do. Birds in...sweet. 25 minutes after dark, I pull back the blinds to check on them. Aaaarhh !!!! They were going nuts ! Hysterical ! They were screaming. I dont think I could of thrown the birds any harder into the sides of the cage. I frantically bolted out there and i find two cats on top of the cage ! . Seeing me infront of them panicked made them worse, which in turn made me worse. Bringing them inside was not an option. So I covered the cage with a bed sheet (which of course sent them smashing into the sides again. Poor things. What more could i do i thought. I walked back inside with that special feeling, what I got myself into . I was convinced the majority couldn't possibly survive that. They were dropping to the floor like bricks.

No casualties in the morning, but I was warned of the delayed repercussions. Next night - a 3rd cat. Next night I caught a different cat in a trap! Covered it in a towl and called the council for pickup. Since then I have caught 3 more. This is all within the first 8 days !..and there are 3 more stalking.

I love all animals, and im trying to do the right thing here. I am paranoid people will catch on and jump over and let my birds out.
I haven't lost any yet ....aside from the Sea green that flew out when I went to add another feeder dish

[Diane]

Get padlocks for the cage doors, wont stop anyone but will slow them down.
Safety cage on the front of each aviary to stop escapees.
I think the cage you must mean where the cats were is the taller cream coloured one? Any chance of pushing/rolling that against a wall for overnight?
Catching each cat will certainly reduce the numbers.
Lie in wait with a hose.
Get a dog.

[Budgie_Smugglers]

Just caught another one this morning. That's 3 days in a row ! If I get a dog, I would have it inside at night. The Melbourne weathers a bit nippy at night. But that's when the cats are about.

[fishtales]

People just wont do the right thing, and keep their verminous cats inside. Years ago when I had avairies, I also trapped them, including a neighbors cat, but not after i pleaded with her to keep it inside as, it killed 3 of my rosa bourkes. Just keep trapping! Don't get a dog, because they will keep you awake barking at the cats lol

[Rosco]

Shire of Yarra Ranges has just passed a law requiring cat owners to keep the buggers contained on the property night and day. The wild cat population will remain the main issue, but good o I say.

I must've shot about 50 over the years. Haven't made a dent in their numbers.

I love cats, but some kind of biological control needs to be considered I'd reckon.

[arthur]

Type 'cats' into 'search' . .

73 pages of posts . . a bit of chaff, but a lot of good suggestions regarding our feline friends

[Budgie_Smugglers]

Thanks heaps guys...

[Brooksy]

Just keep trapping the flaming things and take them to the animal shelter, Its the best measure. Owners can actually get fined by the council for letting them loose at night if the cat is micro chipped and is tracked back to them.
And if nobody claims them at the shelter they get put down after a designated time.
Ive done the right thing and have taken five or six cats to the shelter over the past two years and to be honest I hoped they were put down, cats and especially feral cats are a menace when let loose.
This might not be to everyone's liking but hey take responsibility for your cats.

[finchbreeder]

Here in WA we are a forward thinking lot. All cats must be micorchipped and have themselves a house or avairy to live in. Not allowed to wander. Now if we could just get all the cat owners to obey the laws.
LML

[gouldianpaul]

Just keep trapping the flaming things and take them to the animal shelter, Its the best measure. Owners can actually get fined by the council for letting them loose at night if the cat is micro chipped and is tracked back to them.
And if nobody claims them at the shelter they get put down after a designated time.
Ive done the right thing and have taken five or six cats to the shelter over the past two years and to be honest I hoped they were put down, cats and especially feral cats are a menace when let loose.
This might not be to everyone's liking but hey take responsibility for your cats.

Brooksy's suggestion is the best way to go about it....humane to the animal, but hurts the owners hip pocket....they either decide to become responsible pet owners or decide pets are not for them....eventually probem is solved....cheers, Paul