Hi,
We have great tits nesting in a box in our garden. Unfortunately, I've sited it incorrectly and a neighbours cat has been caught on our webcam putting a paw into the box.
I don't want to add a nestbox guardian to the box for fear of disturbing the birds. Shall I add rose cuttings around the top of the box and underneath to deter the cat or should we try to fix the guardian or fix chickenwire to the front?
I guess we should probably leave well alone and then resite the box next year - perhaps adding rose cuttings to the top of the box and underneath to deter the cat?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks.
Rosemarie
Have they laid eggs and actually brooding?
If not - how long does it take fit the guardian which would be better protection than the rose cuttings.
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Hi Rosemarie and welcome to the forum, I had this problem with a Robin nest a few years ago and they subsequently abandoned their four eggs! Have a look on Amazon at cat repellents, there are quite a few sprays, granules etc available that can be used on the ground as deterrents ... also some plants that cats don't like here
https://www.google.com/amp/s/meadowlarkjournal.com/blog/plants-that-deter-cats%3fformat=amp
Maybe some in pots placed strategically to keep cats from getting near enough to nestbox, can be quickly placed in position so as not to scare birds away! Do let us know if your nest is successful
2013 photos & vids here
eff37 on Flickr
Thanks Wendy. I'm already using a cat repellent - to try to keep them off my veg trug. I've used all sorts of repellents, too many cats around this estate and we don't have dogs anymore.
We had retrievers for years and never had a cat issue in homes we were in before. I'll def try the plants suggested as well.
Not sure if the eggs are laid yet or if they are brooding. I haven't seen her taking nesting material in for a few days, so it may be that they are brooding now. Def not so much activity as previously when they were building the nest.
It wouldn't take long to fit the guardian but wary it might scare off the birds completely and they abandon the nest. Guess it might be worth a try?
The great tits seem to have abandoned the nest. I had left well alone and hadn't even collected the webcam footage even though the camera wasn't attached or very near the nest box.
I looked at the footage this morning and can see that the last time a tit visited the box was 30 March. The neighbours cat was seen to be trying to get it's paw into the box every night up to 31 March and not since.
All very quiet on the nest box front now.
Next year, we will resite the box high up elsewhere in the garden and put the nest box guard onto the front way before the nesting period.
Sorry for the disappointment this year and hope you have better luck with the re-sited box next year ... cats are a pain where wild birds are concerned!
Thanks Wendy. I am a dog person and I do like some cats, but - i.e. please keep out of our garden! lol