I feed numerous feral and neighborhood cats on my deck. Birds come

Paula
by Paula
down and steal the food, which is a dangerous game. I would like a recommendation on the best bird feeder to get the birds up high so the cats can't reach them.

  8 answers
  • Cloe Cloe on Jul 15, 2017

    An aluminum feeder may help. Cats are climbers and will get to just about anything.

  • Nancy Turner Nancy Turner on Jul 15, 2017

    Think about putting bird feeders up above the deck railing. The posts should raise them above the level that the cats can jump without falling over the edge. They will learn! The only problem would be that you may need a ladder to fill the feeders. The other thought would be to hang them from the roof, but a good ways away from the cat food. It may take a while for the birds to switch to feeders if they are used to eating the cat food.

  • Rosalie Rogers Rosalie Rogers on Jul 15, 2017

    Birds are not dumb. As long as you are putting food out for cats, they will go where the food is easiest to get. Bird feeders would be a waste of time and money. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

  • Sandra Allen Sandra Allen on Jul 15, 2017

    I found an interesting link that says you can feed them a lot of things you wouldn't think they would eat, and if you have a birdbath full of it and some water, they will leave that boring cat food alone. She said that they wash their food so it is not only soft for their babies, but has enough moisture in it to keep them from deydration, esp' this time of yar.


    Do you, or can you build something high for them?


    http://archive.knoxnews.com/entertainment/columnists/marcia-davis/crows-may-use-your-bird-bath-as-sink-for-food-preparation-360a1450-ec3d-2288-e053-0100007f0e2f-384884201.html



  • Lisa Falkenthal Lisa Falkenthal on Jul 15, 2017

    I would suggest a tall post or tree branch and a Feeder on a pulley or chain

  • Rosalie Rogers Rosalie Rogers on Jul 15, 2017

    As long as you are putting food where any thing can reach them, don't waste your money on buying bird feeders. I bought a squirrel feeder so they would leave the birdseed alone and guess what, blue jays took over the corn feeder and actually chased the squirrels away. Mother Nature will get her way!

  • Paula Paula on Jul 16, 2017

    We will be building a deck cover on very soon, so maybe then I can attach something to that. I just hope I can keep them away from the deck floor where the cats are.

    I appreciate all your input.

  • Paula Paula on Jul 16, 2017

    Sandra, thank you for the information and the link.