96 



I have had no success with any of these methods, and have 

 known all to fail except that of putting pepper and kerosene 

 on the dead bird. Many correspondents express the belief that 

 many people who believe that they have taught their cats not to 

 kill birds have merely taught them not to bring the birds in, but 

 to catch them in the fields and eat them under some building, 

 or to leave them where killed. Dr. Anne E. Perkins, writes that 

 she used to be very fond of cats, and can speak from years of 

 experience, both with her own beloved pets and with others. 

 She asserts that much pains was taken to break them of bird 

 killing, but after they had been punished they did not bring the 

 birds in sight as they did with mice, etc., but many a heap of 

 feathers was found. Others report similar experiences. 



In 1914 a female cat took up her abode on my farm. She was 

 believed not to kill birds, having been taught (?) by whippings 

 when a kitten. For two months there seemed to be no evidence 

 to convict her of bird killing, although I found a nest destroyed 

 in one place and remains of young robins in another. Then she 

 was seen with a bird, and later with another. A week later I 

 found her with a live blackpoll warbler, and as I approached I 

 heard her teeth crunch its tender bones, which prevented all 

 chance of rescue. We tied the dead bird firmly about her neck, 

 but she took to the woods, and in half an hour she had clawed it 

 off and probably had eaten it. If the bird had been sewn in 

 canvas or duck the expedient might have been more effectual. 

 The plan of securing the bird firmly about the cat's neck and 

 leaving it there until it "wears" oflF is said to be very effective. 

 Red pepper may sometimes prevent a cat from eating a bird, 

 but in several cases reported to me the cats ate the birds, red 

 pepper and all. Kerosene probably is more effective, but all 

 these devices may fail to prevent the cat from killing, as na 

 one can possibly know how many birds his cat kills unless he 

 keeps the cat shut in at night and under watch all day. Any one 

 who succeeds in awakening the regard and affection of a cat may 

 restrain it by constant watchfulness and words of displeasure or 

 light blows upon the body (never on the head), but few people 

 have the time or patience for this. 



Some cats may be taught not to kill caged birds. Kittens in 

 bird stores are so trained by means of red-hot knitting needles 

 placed in front of a cage, when they first attempt to catch the 

 birds, or by red pepper and kerosene on a dead bird, which 

 teaches them to leave it alone. 



