So I turned my back for 5 minutes

Originally Posted by Steve H

I feel the same about Human Beings!

Then we agree then

Originally Posted by Kinvig

I'm actually more of a dog person....figured a cat would be less high maitenance, what with living in London & never being in the house.

Kinvig, I used to be a dog person. My wife (then girlfriend) introduced me to
the joys of Cats, and I can honestly say that I now prefer the characteristics
of Cats any day of the week.

Stick a bell on the collar...give the feathered brigade a fighting chance...

Dad and the Cat and the Tree
.

This morning a cat got stuck in our tree,
Dad said, "Right Just leave this to me."
The tree was wobbly, the tree was tall
Mum said, "For goodness sake don't fall!"
"Fall?" scoffed Dad, "A climber like me?
Childs play this is! You wait and see."

He got out the ladder from the garden shed,
It slipped, he landed in the flower bed.
"Never mind," said Dad brushing the dirt
Off his hair and his face and his trousers and shirt,
"We'll try Plan B. Stand out of the way",
Mum said "Don't fall" again, "OK?"

"Fall again?" said Dad, "Funny Joke!"
Then he swung himself up on a branch - It broke.
Dad landed, wallop! - back on the deck.
Mum said "Stop it! You'll break your neck!"
"Rubbish!" said Dad, "now we try Plan C.
Easy as winking to a climber like me!"

Then he climbed up high on the garden wall,
Guess what? He didn't fall!
He gave a great leap and he landed flat
In the crook of the tree trunk right on the cat!
The cat gave a yell and sprang to the ground,
Pleased as Punch to be safe and sound.
So it's smiling and smirking, smug as can be,
But poor old Dad's
Still
Stuck
Up
The
Tree!

Kinvig - some friends of mine have cats & a house that backs onto fields - the cats are always off over the fields chasing mice etc. They've trained them to come back by standing in the back garden and rattling a box of go-cat like a lunatic.

They started off by rattling the box of go-cat at feeding time & then hand-feeding just one of the little biscuity things to each of the cats, making sure to show them that the biscuit came out of the box. The cats now associate the rattle of the box with the fact they will get fed so they come running every time the box is rattled loudly in the garden.

I was house/cat-sitting for them a couple of weeks ago and the box of go-cat worked a treat when I wanted the cats to come back in the house for the night.

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by El Saxo

the cats are always off over the fields chasing mice etc.

I know this is cats just doing the instinctive thing, but this really annoys me. Field mice, voles, shrews etc are in decline and as a result so are the species that predate on them, such as owls. The huge numbers of domestic cats allowed to roam free while 'mummy' or 'daddy' are at work means that these small mammals are being hunted to extinction. Small bird numbers such as sparrows are also in decline, related to the same issue.

This is why the local cat population gets catapulted by me if they come into my field. I'm trying to promote habitat for small mammals and so encourage owls back into my small piece of woodland. I am also providing hedgerow habitat for small birds to increase thier numbers. Unless I discourage the cats from the village houses that border my land, all I'm doing is providing entertainment for bored moggies waiting for thier owners to return and let them in.

I know it sounds like I got a grand estate from the description, but it's only one field with a few trees! Just trying to give nature a helping hand.

[dizzyblonde]

i got two cats and two dogs. They all lurve each other. although it is quite amusing when the cats gang up on bob the chaviest dog in town. As fer the rattly box trick I only have to open the tin and the cat radar activate from over the field in the back

Originally Posted by Luckypants

I know this is cats just doing the instinctive thing, but this really annoys me. Field mice, voles, shrews etc are in decline and as a result so are the species that predate on them, such as owls. The huge numbers of domestic cats allowed to roam free while 'mummy' or 'daddy' are at work means that these small mammals are being hunted to extinction. Small bird numbers such as sparrows are also in decline, related to the same issue.

This is why the local cat population gets catapulted by me if they come into my field. I'm trying to promote habitat for small mammals and so encourage owls back into my small piece of woodland. I am also providing hedgerow habitat for small birds to increase thier numbers. Unless I discourage the cats from the village houses that border my land, all I'm doing is providing entertainment for bored moggies waiting for thier owners to return and let them in.

I know it sounds like I got a grand estate from the description, but it's only one field with a few trees! Just trying to give nature a helping hand.

Oh man that sounds awesome.

You need to get a dog though. A nice clever gundog that will leave everything alone apart from the cats.

There are about 10 cats whose range includes my street, and therefore my garden, yet my little patch is a haven for birds, frogs, bugs, bees n wee beasties - simply because my dog goes on regular patrols of the garden.
Word got round the cat community I think when, in the early days, I opened the back door to let him out and he was confronted by a huge tabby in the middle of the lawn.
Tabby makes a run for the apple tree before Kodo has even moved, turns round on a mid-high branch and makes to gloat at the poor stupid dog that was approaching the base of the tree at speed...

... the look of shock on the cat's face as Kodo then launched himself at the treetrunk and proceeded to run up to the lowest branch, and carry on climbing, was priceless. Daft mog attempted to backpedal further up the branch and fell out of the tree. Hightailed it over the fence and was never seen again - nor was any other cat.

This is the same dog, who when stretched out on the lawn in the sun, didn't bat an eyelid when one of our resident robins hopped along the lawn, on to the dog, continued along the lawn looking for bugs.

He's like their cat-repelling guardian.

Originally Posted by K

Oh man that sounds awesome.

You need to get a dog though. A nice clever gundog that will leave everything alone apart from the cats.

There are about 10 cats whose range includes my street, and therefore my garden, yet my little patch is a haven for birds, frogs, bugs, bees n wee beasties - simply because my dog goes on regular patrols of the garden.
Word got round the cat community I think when, in the early days, I opened the back door to let him out and he was confronted by a huge tabby in the middle of the lawn.
Tabby makes a run for the apple tree before Kodo has even moved, turns round on a mid-high branch and makes to gloat at the poor stupid dog that was approaching the base of the tree at speed...

... the look of shock on the cat's face as Kodo then launched himself at the treetrunk and proceeded to run up to the lowest branch, and carry on climbing, was priceless. Daft mog attempted to backpedal further up the branch and fell out of the tree. Hightailed it over the fence and was never seen again - nor was any other cat.

This is the same dog, who when stretched out on the lawn in the sun, didn't bat an eyelid when one of our resident robins hopped along the lawn, on to the dog, continued along the lawn looking for bugs.

He's like their cat-repelling guardian.

Yeah, well done Kodo.

Originally Posted by El Saxo

Kinvig - some friends of mine have cats & a house that backs onto fields - the cats are always off over the fields chasing mice etc. They've trained them to come back by standing in the back garden and rattling a box of go-cat like a lunatic.

They started off by rattling the box of go-cat at feeding time & then hand-feeding just one of the little biscuity things to each of the cats, making sure to show them that the biscuit came out of the box. The cats now associate the rattle of the box with the fact they will get fed so they come running every time the box is rattled loudly in the garden.

I was house/cat-sitting for them a couple of weeks ago and the box of go-cat worked a treat when I wanted the cats to come back in the house for the night.

rustling carrier bags is the only way to get my cat's attention!