If you were willing and had the patience, you could train Skunkcat (a very formidable looking fellow!) to stay away from your yard. YOu need a supersoaker squirt gun and the willingness to spend a lot of time in your yard watching for him - hiding, of course.
I could never squirt Skunk Cat, as I always find him fierce but funny, and he is so bumbly that even the goldfinches flit around him and ignore him (their sock is high up, hung from a metal pole he can't climb.)
Sometimes he sleeps in an old basket by the tools in my shed.
It's hard to hold instinct against an animal. While cats can be "trained" to degrees, you can't really train the instinct out of any animal. The issue lies with the cat being out of doors and on other people's property. Although I know this area is a bit remote and it might be "safer" for the cat in most ways, it's not really in its best interest as anyone could do anything to him as he roams.
I once lived across the street from a cat called Tiger Lily whose 3-year old owner (and her mother) let her roam the streets. She was meek and sweet and I would give her lots of love when she ventured across the street. She would bring to my door a half a bee, a half a mouse, and once, a half a wren. I don't know if she gave her real mommy the other halves or if she ate them, but I used a nice tone of voice when thanking her, even though I was grossed out.
I love cats and birds, and our backyard draws both. For a while, there was a calico who would raid the birdhouse on our deck. Once the babies were born and peeping, I'd have to keep an eye out for the scavenger. He would take the stairs to the upper deck, walk out onto the roof, and then lean over and scoop out the babies. I'd run outside and give him a blast from the garden house, which would dissuade him at the moment. I couldn't keep an eye on him all the time, and he would clean out the nest eventually. I'd feel so guilty! After two years of that, I quit putting the birdhouse there. I've not seen him in the last couple years, so maybe it's safe to replace the birdhouse.
Dreadful cat! You must have dreaded hatching so much...I do hope you can have a new birdhouse safely now.
My sister recently did major renovations on their house, and even with the workmen all around, her regular phoebes still built their nest high under the back porch roof. This year the ledge is gone, so my sister's husband built a ledge in the old spot...I hope the phoebe will like it! (My sister has no cats.)
Comments 24
But it is his nature to hunt birds.
You are much like St. Francis, dear Jackie.
Reply
Sometimes he sleeps in an old basket by the tools in my shed.
Reply
If you have bird feeders, cats will sniff them out!
I second Lynn's solution.
I love it that you put warm water in the birdbath, Jackie.
Reply
I would never call him Patches--he is Skunk Cat to me!
My daughter even has a book review site called Skunk Cat Book Reviews, named for him.
Reply
:)
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I hope he is too clumsy to catch a bird, but he was nimble enough, I see, to perch in the crook of the dogwood tree exactly between the two feeders.
Reply
I once lived across the street from a cat called Tiger Lily whose 3-year old owner (and her mother) let her roam the streets. She was meek and sweet and I would give her lots of love when she ventured across the street. She would bring to my door a half a bee, a half a mouse, and once, a half a wren. I don't know if she gave her real mommy the other halves or if she ate them, but I used a nice tone of voice when thanking her, even though I was grossed out.
Reply
This brought tears to my eyes. A lovely image. What a sweet cat.
A half a bee! Droll and fascinating.
One hopes it was the end without the stinger.
Reply
Reply
My sister recently did major renovations on their house, and even with the workmen all around, her regular phoebes still built their nest high under the back porch roof. This year the ledge is gone, so my sister's husband built a ledge in the old spot...I hope the phoebe will like it! (My sister has no cats.)
Reply
Leave a comment