stopping cats attacking wildlife?

There's not much that's going to deter a cat from hunting mice, birds, frogs, etc. It's their nature, it's just what they do. Asking them to stop is like asking you not to breath.

If you know the owners, tell them their cats are coming into your garden and you want them kept out. Depending on if they are good neighbors or bad, they may or may not comply. And it's intirely possible the cats are feral and have no owners.

The only sure deterent is to keep them out of the area. You can try mothballs, i've used them to keep squirrels out of my garden and heaven knows they're stinky enough...but i really don't know if they'd work for cats. You might also try chicken wire, but it will have to be high enough that the cat can't climb over (cats can scale a chainlink fence quite easily).

I understand that you want your garden critters left alone...but understand also that the cats are just being cats. It's Nature in all it's wonders and horrors.

re: birdgirl - oh please! Go hug your tree in some other forum. Domesticated or not, nature still intended cats to be hunters. There are millions of birds - millions. I'd be much more worried about deforestation and polution before worrying about someones kitty cat snacking on a few birds. At best cats are listed as a "MINOR" cause of decreased bird population, and I think even that is stretching it.

"So the cat might be a small part of the migratory birds decline, but it is not the chiefly guilty party. As with the plight of most suffering species, the migratory bird is paying a price for human expansion." http://www.helium.com/items/1889307-cats-are-not-d...

In other words - YOU (people) are more of a cause than cats!

Considering you are in the UK, where it's quite common for people to let their cats outside, perhaps you can track down the cats' owners and see if they might consider putting a belled collar on their cats? All cats should have tags anyway in case they get lost or injured while outside. A bell will help give the prey a little notice that there is a predator nearby. If they are nice (the neighbors, not the cats), you might even very politely ask if they might consider keeping their kitty indoors. Indoor kitties live much longer and healthier lives than ones that go outside.

That being said, this is what cats do. Their instinct is to hunt and that instinct is so strong that some will do it even when they aren't hungry. Mice, rats, birds, even rabbits are all fair game to them (though a hedgehog surprises me!). Just keep in mind that for all of the animals you'd prefer they didn't go after (songbirds, bunnies, the hedgies, etc.) they are probably catching a lot more mice and moles and other critters you DON'T want in your gardens.

Hi there, i have a problem with cats in my back garden but not quite the same as you, my cat is often getting attacked by other bigger cats coming into the garden and i get quite upset by this as its her garden, so my husband has put a PIR detector on the sprinkler ah but i hear you saying what about your cat too it will get wet, NO problem i have a beautiful turkish van [the swimming cat] who adores any kind of water and plays with it while the other cats go off yowling [YES] , problem solved, hope this helps ask an electrician about this.

If these cats have owners speak to them and let them know that you are not pleased with the cats harming and killing native wildlife. Ask them to keep the cats indoors. If they refuse, or if these cats are strays, trap them and take them to the nearest humane society or animal shelter. I do love cats, but I hate irresponsible owners.

I disagree with the person saying "cats are just being cats"...for your information cats NO longer have a place in the ecosystem..they are domesticated therefore considered invasive species. Cats are responsible for the deaths of millions of migratory songbirds each year (just in the US alone). Yes, cats are natural hunters..therefore should be kept indoors!

Edit: Camirra...it is scientifically proven that cats play a LARGE role in killing native wildlife.

http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/in...

Also, I am not a tree hugger, I am a scientist..an ornithologist actually. Where exactly did you get YOUR degree in this field? If you claim to be such an expert, please tell me who educated you!? I suppose you don't think we should neuter pets either..that would be TOO "unnatural" wouldn't it??

There are motion sensor sprinklers, available in the US, and also in the UK.

See link for one type that is available, and is in the UK. Since you mentioned hedgehogs, I am assuming you are in the UK.