Hi all. About a week ago my cat had caught bird in the garden and i saw it in its mouth. Usually if it's too late i will leave the bird for the cats knowing they will have no chance of surviving with the injuries they have. But when the birds are still healthy i try to save them from the cats.

In this case i picked up my and put my behind the bird in his mouth and literally pushed it out with ease. The bird flew off and we brought the cat inside.

But just a few minutes ago we had a similar situation, but this time my cat really didn't want to let go. Obviously i had more strength than my cats jaw and the bird went free.

I was just wondering if forcing a cat to open its mouth against its will can hurt the cat. He didn't react to it at all and just tried to chase the bird but cats tend to be tough and show their injuries later.

Does anyone know if i was okay to do this. These birds don't deserve to die but i don't want to hurt my cat in the process.

Well the cats jaw probably hurts less than the eaten bird. It would be like removing smething from a babies mouth probably doesnt do any long term harm

Need to do it all the time if our cats have to take a tablet for any reason. It's always easier if the mouth is held slightly open by something in it . . . a bird in your case.

You can "force" a cat's mouth open for many purposes. But seriously, for routine pill taking etc. Some CATS have a habit of tearing their claws through HUMAN flesh during the process. Otherwise, little harm results.

Easier just to let nature take its course, surely? Plus, it's one less can of Whiskers you need to buy...

Tickle the cat under its belly until it starts to laugh uncontrollably and loosen its jaw. The bird will then fly off of its own accord (unless it has a death wish).

Put the cat nto a large dog's mouth.
It may not make the cat appreciate what it's doing to the bird, but at least it'll let go.

To get something out of a cat's mouth/give it a pill I have always placed my hand under the cat's jaw and pressed my thumb and forefinger into the corners of the mouth, applying gradual pressure to the molars in the 'hinge' of the jaw as it were. The cat (or dog) begins to chew on its cheek and will open. The other hand could free a bird/feed a pill and fend off any claws.

If your cat is being this much of a hunter it needs a collar with bells - with extra bells fitted if necessary, like a cat tambourine around the neck. If you worry about the collar strangling the cat in a tree there are those coloured nylon types available which are completely elasticated all the way round - place your hands inside the collar and you can stretch it to twice the size (my cat's collar slips straight off this way when I want to groom him). The RSPB says collars cut bird carnage by 50%.

From experience,they are so excited to please their Momma or Poppa, they drop it very quickly.

Same goes for mice.

lol,

Was going to recommend this, your cat will be mighty pissed off at you, but if you want to protect the birds then this is probably the only option. My cat never gave up chasing birds, even with the collar he managed to get one, but it was better than the 3 a week he was usually doing.

Best post so far!

The RSPCA don't recommend using your behind to push a bird out of a cat's mouth.

Sheez, cats catch birds, it's their nature - if you want to save the birds, lock the cat up or get a hamster.

I'd be tempted to feed the cat so much it became obese and then wouldn't chase the birds.

I hate cats.

Exactly, you surely must have known cats like to catch birds and mice when you got your cat?

It's nature, animals kill other animals. It's not nice, but your cat is only doing what comes natural to him. I think you should leave him alone!

I would say that it's also many a human instinct to spring to the rescue of the defenceless, especially when this animal or person is seen as a 'baby'. I think many of us are wired that way.

Well that's what cats do, they kill defenceless animals. If you don't like that you shouldn't get a cat imo.

Yes, but the point is if you ARE wired that way, why would you keep as a pet an animal that has evolved to be one of the most efficient hunting and killing machines on the planet? That's what cats are designed to do. There's no percentage in complaining when they do it.

If it was up to me, cats would be locked away and only allowed out on a lead like dogs.

In my street, there are more cats than humans and as the token non-cat household, every one of the ****ing things comes into my garden to eat the birds and dig up the plants and crap all over the grass.

Bloody vermin. If it wasn't for the cost, I'd get an electric fence.

In certain states in Australia, cats have a curfew and any of them outside after 9pm take the risk of getting shot as they are decimating the local wildlife. Brilliant idea!

Are you trying to provoke me? I think it's probably obvious from my posts that I like cats and you tell me you want them to get shot and call them vermin.

So far my cat has not killed a bird but.....I make sure her collars have a bell on to warn the birds. I think and hope this helps

She catches and eats mice and voles whole though........ewe!

Because cats are cool, not all cats have the killer instinct, and for those that do a 'tambourine collar', and a well-aimed water pistol when that doesn't work, can either manage or uncheck their murderous ways.

I owned the 'black death', a cat so prolific in his birding I'd all but decided to rehome him through an animal shelter with the specific instruction he must not go to another house with garden, he'd have to be a 'flat cat' (I felt like flattening him some days too). But I persevered, he stopped, and became a sweet little cat.

I've never had much luck with men either. On the surface of it why would I want a cheating, burping, farting creature whose instinct may be to play around? But it doesn't stop me from wanting another to stroke and have on my knee.

Sadly a collar with bells and a water pistol doesn't work with men though.

I'm fine with the cats, but your comments about men have really hit home!

No, I wasn't trying to provoke you at all. I apologise if that's what you thought. I was just replying to your post.

I appreciate some people like cats.

However, some people like wild birds and mice, like me. I would prefer to see them alive and healthy than being mangled in a cat's jaws.

Some people like plants, like me. I prefer to see them well dug in and growing strong instead of being ripped out of the ground by a cat.

Some people like children playing in their own gardens, like me, rather than having to check the grass before the children can go out to play as there is usually cat's crap out there and I don't want my children getting ill from picking up bacteria if they happen to come across it before I do.

We're all different. You love cats. I detest them. Just my opinion.

It really does look like you are trying to provoke me....

Are you a dog lover by any chance?