My spayed/neutered cats roam freely (but also have a cat door so they’re never stuck outside looking for food or shelter). At the first sign of a propensity to kill healthy birds, the ID tag and rabies tag on kitty’s collar is joined by a nice loud bell. Does the trick. And I scatter a generous helping of birdseed in my driveway everyday — provides entertainment for kitties and fattens up the birds so they have plenty of babies of every year. I’ve had 3-4 indoor-outdoor cats for the entire 20 years I’ve lived in this house, and they certainly haven’t made a dent in the bird population. I’ve got a much wider variety of birds than when I first moved in.
you’re so right. cats and birds are like peanut butter and jelly.
the bells level the playing field and makes it a hoot to watch i’m sure.
You seem to be the cat “owner” exception.