Cat killing Martins

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ldybala
Posts: 61
Joined: Tue Feb 17, 2004 1:32 pm
Location: Texas/Houston

My wife feeds three cats in the neighborhood. Two have not caused any problems. But a third, younger male cat, has been sitting under the Martin poles and waiting for the birds to fall on the ground while fighting. Yesterday he got his third adult male Martin.

I've had her keep him in in the morning, when the fights are most prevalent. And I've placed a bell and KatBib on the cat, but because the birds are always stunned, they do not have a chance. Yesterday he got one in the evening as they were returning to their housing. Any other suggestions other than getting rid of the cat (which I cannot do) or keeping him indoors permanently during Martin season.
2013 one pair; 4 eggs; 1 fledged
2014 three pair; 6 fledged
2015 six pair; 16 fledged
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Ransom Graham
Posts: 31
Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2018 9:13 pm
Location: Newton, NC

Since I see cats in a somewhat similar light as starlings and house sparrows you really don't want my suggestion.
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lynnh
Posts: 391
Joined: Thu Jun 28, 2007 7:07 am
Location: Iowa, New Sharon

Only other thing that comes to mind is New wife LOL pun intended .
2007 2 pair 8 fledged
2008 4 pair 18 fledged
2009 21 pair 87 fledged
2010 44 pair 174 fledged
2011 68 pair 244 fledged
2012 82 pair 364 fledged
2013 82 pair 359 fledged
2014 86 pair 415 fledged
2015 101 pair 427 fledged
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jhcox
Posts: 801
Joined: Thu May 26, 2016 9:23 am
Location: tennesse
Martin Colony History: Started colony in 2014. 0 pairs
2015 0 pairs
2016 0 pairs
2017 0 pairs but visitors
2018 1 pair fledged 5
2019 10 pair
2020 25 pair
2021 42 Pair
2022 60 Pair
2023 72 Pair
2024 74 pair
2025 78 pair

The best thing that I know of for this an invisible fence. You can buy them at Petsmart. There are no wires just the signal unit and the collar that the cat would wear. If you train them right they will learn to stay inside the boundaries that you set and 90% of the time the pet doesn’t even need to be shocked. The vibration alert most of the time will send them back closer to the house. If your martin racks are in your backyard then set the unit in the front of your home and this should solve your problem.
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JRow
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2017 2:23 pm
Location: Eastern South Dakota
Martin Colony History: 2017--super 24 gourd rack with a mix of Troyer horizontals and natural gourds

PMCA member

I’m not sure what your space is like (kids around, etc.) but maybe an electric fence several feet out from the pole? The cat would learn fast—and I’m suggesting a pet fencer, not cattle. I know cats have nine lives but the cattle fencer would probably take all nine. :roll:
~Jen

2017-- 23 pair with 99 eggs: 81 hatched, 80 fledged.
PMCA member
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Fuzzmeister
Posts: 178
Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2017 9:02 pm
Location: Saskatchewan Canada

I understand your dilemma cat! Wife!! Wife! Cat! I wish you good luck.
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Louise Chambers
Site Admin
Posts: 6208
Joined: Tue Nov 04, 2003 1:07 pm
Location: Corpus Christi, TX

I suggest keeping the cat inside, or building it a catio - those are really nice. Google "catio" for ideas.
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Brad-AL
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 2:00 pm
Location: North AL

Ransom Graham wrote:Since I see cats in a somewhat similar light as starlings and house sparrows you really don't want my suggestion.
He wouldn't like my suggestion either.
High quality plastic gourds with porched, tunnelled SREH are Martin magnets.
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Dave Reynolds
Posts: 2441
Joined: Mon Jan 31, 2011 4:35 pm
Location: Little Hocking, Oh.
Martin Colony History: Satellite Site “Oxbow Golf Course”..
2018 - 15 Pair, 36 Fledged
2019 - 26 Pair, 97 Fledged
2020 - 30 Pair, 137 Fledged
2021 - 30 Pair, 144 Fledged
2022 - 27 Pair, 125 Fledged
2023 - 31 Pair, 130 Fledged
2024 - 41 Pair, 198 Fledged
2025 - 44 Pair, 168 Fledged

Home Site "Little Hocking, Ohio".
2019 - 1 Pair, 5 Fledged
2020 - 1 Pair, 4 Fledged
2021 - 8 Pair, 36 Fledged
2022 - 13 Pair, 46 Fledged
2023 - 16 Pair, 84 Fledged
2024 - 22 Pair, 104 Fledged
2025 - 28 Pair, 83 Fledged

The only thing that I have heard that made a lot of since was a motion detector that would turn on a sprinkler system and spray the area with water.. The cat stayed away because he didn’t like getting sprayed.. Good Luck

Dave
PMCA Member
Little Hocking, Ohio
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Purple Man
Posts: 63
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2018 3:54 pm
Location: North Carolina
Martin Colony History: My First year 2018

ldybala wrote:My wife feeds three cats in the neighborhood. Two have not caused any problems. But a third, younger male cat, has been sitting under the Martin poles and waiting for the birds to fall on the ground while fighting. Yesterday he got his third adult male Martin.

I've had her keep him in in the morning, when the fights are most prevalent. And I've placed a bell and KatBib on the cat, but because the birds are always stunned, they do not have a chance. Yesterday he got one in the evening as they were returning to their housing. Any other suggestions other than getting rid of the cat (which I cannot do) or keeping him indoors permanently during Martin season.
Put a water sprinkler by martin pole with a motion detector sensor
Mike
Eastern North Carolina
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Gun
Posts: 80
Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2016 11:26 pm
Location: Foothills, AB
Martin Colony History: 2016 - 1 pair - 4 fledged
2017 - 4 pair - 16 fledged
2018 - 7 pair - 24 fledged
Moved and starting over in 2019

Brad-AL wrote:
Ransom Graham wrote:Since I see cats in a somewhat similar light as starlings and house sparrows you really don't want my suggestion.
He wouldn't like my suggestion either.
X3
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sugarcreek
Posts: 252
Joined: Sun Mar 27, 2016 10:43 am
Location: Sugarcreek, Ohio
Martin Colony History: 2016 First Yr.

Gun wrote:
Brad-AL wrote:
Ransom Graham wrote:Since I see cats in a somewhat similar light as starlings and house sparrows you really don't want my suggestion.
He wouldn't like my suggestion either.
X3

X4
16 - 14 Cavities 4 Act. Ne 9 fledged, 2.25 Fl. per Act. Ne
17 - 36 Cavities 18 Act. Ne 65 Fledged, 3.61 Fl. per Act. Ne
18 - 54 Cavities 43 Act. Ne 169 Fledged, 3.93 Fl. per Act. Ne
19 - 108 Cavities 67 Act. Ne 209 Fledged, 3.12 Fl. per Act. Ne
20 - 108 Cavities 72 Act. Ne 243 Fledged, 3.38 Fl. per Act. Ne
21 - 112 Cavities 91 Act. Ne 313 Fledged, 3.44 Fl. per Act. Ne
22 - 114 Cavities 101 Act Ne 355 Fledged, 3.51 Fl. per Act. Ne
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wolfey
Posts: 4
Joined: Tue Dec 08, 2015 6:40 pm
Location: Spartanburg County, SC

Kill the the cat!!!!! Or move it to a better location like a dog kennel.
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