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Tim Webb

In the space of just three months I seem to have acquired three new and regular visitors to my garden. A ginger and white cat, a black and white cat and a tabby.

A fat cat victim? Puss given the boot? Don't judge on heresy.They all loiter in the shrubs and hide behind bumps and pot plants. They stalk leaves blowing in the wind and have had several attempts to catch garden birds. I'm delighted and amused to report that, so far, each witnessed attempt has failed.

The mammal society estimates that cats kill some 55 million birds a year. Many millions of birds die from starvation, disease, or other predators. Yet cats remain fixed in some people's minds as the main culprits behind the decline of species such as house sparrows and starlings.

Soon, we'll be able to add more evidence to this state of affairs, thanks to a new study by researchers at Reading University. They're fixing electronic tags to some 200 plus cats to establish just what they get up to. Every little bit of evidence helps shine a light in to the murk surrounding the mystery of our vanishing garden birds.

Being a cautious sort, I'm doing what I can right now to grow thick native shrubs and create a moasic of habitats that will support and attract a wide range of wildlife to my garden. More nectar and seeds means more insects and birds. Full details of what you can achieve can be found on our advice pages. Personalised gardening advice is also available by subscribing to our Homes for Wildlife programme.With numbers of some of our most common garden birds falling, it's important that we sensibly do what we can to save them.

I've no idea where the three cats that are engaged in a turf war in my garden have come from. They appear to be well cared for, but none of them wears a collar fitted with a bell that could save a bird from an early demise. Pet food manufacturers estimate there are some eight million cats in the UK, not including wild and abandoned ones. As the financial downturn bites, people are looking to make savings. There's been a reported increase in abandoned pets, including cats. Are my three new garden arrivals victims of some bankers greed?

Investing time, effort and cash in outdoor spaces gives a great return. I don't want fat cats in my garden, nor do I want starving moggies. I want to look out my window to enjoy the sights, sounds and colour of nature. The profit gained from this investment will add to the general wildlife wealth of the city.

  • Very interesting article. In the late winter of 2008 I started to feed the birds that visit my garden. This has resulted in delightful results, too many of which to mention here I have to add. I sometimes have the odd visit from one of the neighbourhood moggies. These animals generally look well cared for and for the most part fairly healthy. It is however the lack of a bell collar that annoys me. Surely a small thing like that can't be too much of a financial drain, even in these difficult times. As for the possibility of abandoned cats. surely the best thing for the owner to do is to contact an animal wellfare oranisation. There are many people thoughtout the country who would be delighted to have a cat as a family pet but might not have the means of buying one from a pet shop. The study carried out by Reading University is a great move, I feel. Hopefully this will achieve the aims of safe and healthy wildlife and also safe and healthy cats.
  • Have you opened a Pandora's box here, Tim?! From personal experience, I have watched cats catch birds in my garden before I could get out to chase them off. I have also lost our slow worms. Despite putting up defences everywhere, I can't keep other people's pets out of my garden. There are at least 11 cats within about 50 metres of my suburban house. Why not make a law which says pet owners must be responsible for keeping THEIR pets in THEIR garden?