Feral cats and birds

[Valar Morghulis]

We had feral cats here years ago and am considering having some again as could do with rat/mouse control BUT don't want them to make a dint in the fairly big population of wild birds we have at the yard.

Those of you with yard cats - do you find they have an impact on the bird population as well or do you think its mostly rodents they go after?

Thanks!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

my cat hunts and eats everything-from hares to the wheelie bin and everything in between. I also however, keep poultry so the local bird population has a regular supply of food and I can honestly say we have far more birds now than when we moved in (had no cat for 9 months) as we live in a very exposed area and have also done some planting. I have blackbirds and sparrows permanently in my stables, wrens and robins nesting in the garden (and starlings in the roof unfortunately) plus chaffs, goldcrests, many corvids and a regularly visiting sparrowhawk and the usual summer visitors.

So I dont think there's a single answer, they will take birds (I had to have stern words about the hare). I have shut mine in for a few days when we have fledgling blackbirds etc, seems only fair.