How to Deter Cats From Bird Feeders

Nothing is worse than setting up your brand new bird feeder and looking forward to the hours of entertainment it brings only to watch neighborhood cats ruin it all with an afternoon hunt. If you are an animal lover, you have no choice but to find the best way to deter those cats from your bird feeder in a way that allows both the birds and the cats to continue living in peace. The good news is that it can be effectively done by implementing a few simple strategies.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken wire
  • Wire or string
  • Empty bottles or milk jugs
  • Water
  • CDs and string
  • Vasoline
  • Cacti
  • 2 cups white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 2 or 3 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
  • 2 or 3 pepper (small skinny hot ones)
  • 2 or 3 drops of concentrated dish washing liquid
  • Black pepper
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the direction from which the cat normally approaches the bird feeder. Place chicken wire around the bird feeder and angle it outward in the same direction the cat approaches, as this will prevent the cat from reaching the bird feeder.

    • 2

      Run a tight wire or string 5 to 10 cm above the tops of fences near bird feeders to prevent cats from balancing on them.

    • 3

      Cut the tops off of empty milk jugs or water bottles, then fill them with water. Place the jugs (or bottles) along the edges of the area you want the cats to avoid. The light they produce deters cats.

    • 4

      Thread CDs on a string, tying knots between each CD to keep them separate on the string. Hang the string with the CDs in trees near the bird feeder or in flower beds near the bird feeder, as the light they reflect will deter cats.

    • 5

      Apply vasoline to the pole that holds your bird feeders, making the pole slippery and difficult for cats to climb.

    • 6

      Plant a cactus or several cacti around the base of the bird feeder.

    • 7

      Combine 2 cups white vinegar, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, 2-3 peeled and crushed garlic cloves, 2-3 hot peppers, 2-3 drops dish washing liquid and black pepper in a spray bottle. Fill the remaining space in the bottle with water. Spray this mixture around any area you wish to keep cats away from, including your bird feeders.