I will mention that to my neighbor. I don't mind buying the bibs for the cats, but not sure how the neighbor will take it. The cats are wearing bells, which might have saved some birds, but not all.

Your neighbors' cats are interfering with your ability to enjoy watching birds in your yard, so to me it's pretty simple: they find a way to keep their cats out of your yard, or they agree to put bibs on them every time they're out

Placing the feeder in an open area might give the birds more of a chance to escape (i.e. far away from shrubs where the cats could hide), but it'll make it harder for them to escape from birds of prey.

I had one of these in my back yard for most of the summer, aimed right where cats would land if they jumped over my fence near where I feed the birds. I think it helped a lot. http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hav...

I'm thinking, would you be OK with placing some loose pieces of cut brush around under the feeder? Something to block the cats from a clear landing spot to pounce on the birds under the feeder, if you can imagine what I mean..

Yeah, anything that gives an early warning to the birds (bell on collar, etc), provides more cover or escape routes for the birds, or less than optimal hunting terrain or circumstances fur the cat are helpful.
Loving both cats and birds as I do keeps me on the look out for ways that all of us can enjoy each other in my yard and surrounds which currently means no bird or butterfly catching/killing by the three feral cats I look out for here. Luckily there are ample numbers of mice and voles to keep the feline predators interest and skills keen. From small kittens born under my school bus on, these cats I feed twice a day, have been discouraged from even thinking about catching a bird or other flying creature , so they know I mean business on that score. However, they are awesome squirrel and vole hunters.

Donners cat neighbors are already tuned to birds and birds at feeders and her yard and as such will take much cleverness on our parts to dissuade them from their success. What intriguied me about the CatBib was that it intervened at the final point of actual prey capture of these awesome hunters. Many of the already hunting/killing bird cats in the studies and testimonials, being unsuccessful at capture despite their best well honed attempts, stopped hunting birds. And those that persisted in their quest were infrequently successful. They just weren't good at hunting birds any longer! Don't know if they turned to other prey?

The other thing about the CatBib is how quickly cats acclimated to wearing one!
Whether a cat condition with a bib would revert to bird hunting without a bib is unknown. The bib also makes a cat much more visible and less able to blend in or practice motionless stealthy "I'm not a danger. I'm a statue that has always been here beneathe the feeder or birdbath!

Wonder if a catbib keeps cats from jumping on counters indoors?

Donner, do you have some pictures of your feeder and what is around it? Maybe those cats could wear CatBibs when they come to visit you and you would have some special cat time putting them on!

While I was in Costco on Saturday, I saw a book that I picked up for Bonnie. I don't really watch TV, especially political TV, but apparently there is a popular show with a former White House Press Secretary named Dana Perino who has written a best seller about her life with her Vizsla Jasper.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GZY28XQ/

I had to laugh at the photos and text as I was browsing to decide whether to buy it or not, it was like seeing and reading about River. I am finding out that the personality is very consistent throughout the breed. River's latest antic ---- he now jumps vertically with all four paws coming off the ground at once, with a good 2 foot or more clearance. Never seen anything like it. What a hoot.

He still cuddles as close to or even on top of you as he can get, doesn't matter to him that he is getting heavier, and it seems the breed continues to do that their whole life - talk about a 50 pound lap dog

He still has many naughty puppy moments, but he is so endearing in personality that all is quickly forgiven. He discovered how fun the toilet paper roll is, grabbing the end and running through the house with it LOL. Bonnie is now training him to leave it alone, but it is going slowly - he loves it and doesn't seem convinced that it is something that he needs to give up. In the meantime, we have to remember to leave the bathroom doors closed. Common chores like doing the laundry are nearly impossible with him "helping". He sticks his nose into everything, licking, tasting, whatever and if you have to bend down to reach, pick up, or wipe up anything at his level he is right there wiggling his entire body in happiness and giving puppy kisses. Sometimes the only thing to do is to put him in his crate for a "time out" LOL.

How about a cowbell around their necks? LOL

Terri - that pup is gorgeous!

aspenhill said:While I was in Costco on Saturday, I saw a book that I picked up for Bonnie. I don't really watch TV, especially political TV, but apparently there is a popular show with a former White House Press Secretary named Dana Perino who has written a best seller about her life with her Vizsla Jasper.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GZY28XQ/

I had to laugh at the photos and text as I was browsing to decide whether to buy it or not, it was like seeing and reading about River. I am finding out that the personality is very consistent throughout the breed. River's latest antic ---- he now jumps vertically with all four paws coming off the ground at once, with a good 2 foot or more clearance. Never seen anything like it. What a hoot.

He still cuddles as close to or even on top of you as he can get, doesn't matter to him that he is getting heavier, and it seems the breed continues to do that their whole life - talk about a 50 pound lap dog

He still has many naughty puppy moments, but he is so endearing in personality that all is quickly forgiven. He discovered how fun the toilet paper roll is, grabbing the end and running through the house with it LOL. Bonnie is now training him to leave it alone, but it is going slowly - he loves it and doesn't seem convinced that it is something that he needs to give up. In the meantime, we have to remember to leave the bathroom doors closed. Common chores like doing the laundry are nearly impossible with him "helping". He sticks his nose into everything, licking, tasting, whatever and if you have to bend down to reach, pick up, or wipe up anything at his level he is right there wiggling his entire body in happiness and giving puppy kisses. Sometimes the only thing to do is to put him in his crate for a "time out" LOL.

He sounds exactly like a most wonderful dog!

We had a mom at the library with four small kids- the youngest was acting quite a bit like your description of River. she was 'cat herding'. I know that mom needed a nap!

Wow! So many suggestions! Thank you all! I will look into each of them. The quickest solution though is Sally's suggestion of putting cut branches under the feeder. I will do that today. The cats won't be pleased, hehe!

Robin, We have 2 hanging feeders and a platform on one pole. Suet packs are also hanging on it. It is a lot of food and birds. The pole is protected by a PVC pipe over it and an upside down trash can, ugly stuff but that's the 10th version of our "engineering design" to keep squirrels and raccoons from climbing it.

This is what happens when one cat is in your lap and the other wants to be close too.

River keeping me company while I was decorating the basement rec room Christmas tree.

She looks so comfy!
We were taking care of our youngest daughter's dog last night. It was fun to have a dog around (although our cat didn't agree).

We both really enjoyed being outside today!

cute! we did too, took a short walk in the woods

He likes to nibble on that grass, the name of which completely escapes me right now.

Carex?

Muddy1 said:We both really enjoyed being outside today!

A lovely kitty!!

Thanks, Rita.

Yes, Sally, Carex grayii. Thanks!

Addy helped herself to a nice bag of peanut butter covered pretzels while we were out at our daughter's place. Thank heavens she left the chocolate bars and other candy that was in the stockings nearby!

Phew! Good thing she found the pretzels first and spared you a trip to the emergency vet!

My youngest daughter said that these two tore into some wrapped presents....they LOOK guilty, don't they?!