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From: mikeb@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu (Mike Burger)
Newsgroups: rec.birds
Subject: Cats and Birds
Keywords: Reasonable
Message-ID: <5612@uhccux.uhcc.hawaii.edu>
Date: 3 Dec 89 05:20:36 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: University of Hawaii
Lines: 28


	My Grandfather was troubled with the problem of cats and his
beloved birds which he attracted to a well designed feeding station.
He used a series of what I believe were called "Havahart Traps". They
were large and captured the Cat quite unharmed. It was like a wire box
with a metal drop door on each end connected to a trigger. He would dump
the cat rather unceremoniously over the fence into the neighbor's yard
where it belonged.
	If the cat offended too many times he would get mad enough to
dump a bucket of water on it and the cage before dumping it, unharmed,
but short of dignity, over the fence.
	Cats learn.  I am very fond of cats and birds.  I have kept cats
several times during my life and loved them a lot.
	My Grandfather's approch did not hurt the cat, but did "educate"
it to prowl elsewhere.  The traps were available at any well equipted
hardware store for not much money.  Just be sure to check any trap line
daily.  That is only reponsible.  It is hard to justify blasting away
at cats in your back yard with firearms.  But making your yard less
hospitable to them in a humane way can make a difference.
	As an experienced cat owner, I can say that it is hard to refuse
to allow a cat a good prowl now and again.  It is in their genes.  As a
watcher and lover of birds, I would just as soon they did not spend their
time outdoors killing birds.
	I think my Grandfather's approach was balanced and reasonable.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
  Mike Burger, Chemistry, 2545 The Mall  |  University of  Hawaii  |
  BITNET:   MIKEB@UHCCUX.bitnet          | Honolulu, Hawaii, 96822 |
  INTERNET: mike@helium.chem.hawaii.edu     Phone: (808) 948-7503