Dodson Bird Houses 
Joseph H. Dodson, Kankakee, Illinois 
Cats and Squirrels 
Most of us who study the birds know that the cat is a constant menace—a sly and dangerous 
enemy to our dear little friends. Those people who keep cats do not, I am sure, realize the fact 
that the inborn desire to kill is present in every cat, and that wherever birds and cats are together 
the birds are in constant danger. If you have birds about your place, you should do all you can 
to protect them against the hunting expeditions of stray cats. 
In some country places the squirrels are a menace to native birds. If your houses are built 
of the right material and properly hung, the squirrels do not bother the birds very much. 
When it is found that they do get to the birds’ houses, it is very easy to place some of my 
tree guards (see page 19) around the trees from which the houses are hung; this serves to keep 
the cats from climbing up, and will usually keep the squirrels down. 
In Evanston, for a number of years, there was a penalty attached to the killing of squirrels. 
We learned, however, to our sorrow, that the squirrels were destroying our bird’s nests and were 
causing song birds to leave us. I caused this law protecting the squirrels to be repealed, and we 
soon noticed the increase in the number of our song birds. We know that the birds are worth 
more than the squirrels. 
Cats Murder Millions of Birds Every Year 
Cats destroy millions of native birds in this country every year. Well known authorities 
agree that cats kill more birds than are killed by all other animals combined. Native birds 
are absolutely necessary to us as destroyers of insect life. 
The cat is the greatest enemy of our native birds. The evil work of the cat is greater than 
most people will believe possible. A cat in the country or around a garden where birds sometimes 
gather will catch from 50 to 100 song birds each year. You who own cats won’t believe this, 
but it is true, as I know from observation and from the testimony of other students of bird life. 
The number of birds slaughtered by one average country cat is certainly as high as 50 a year. 
Now, there are 250,853 farms in the State of Illinois. There is an average of one cat to a farm, 
I am sure. I know of one farm where fourteen cats are kept, another where there are ten. Sup¬ 
pose we cut that number of birds killed by each cat down to ten a year—less than one-fifth of 
what it really is—that would discover to us a loss of 2,508,530 song birds a year in the State of 
Illinois alone—no account being taken of the little birds dying in the nest after the cat has eaten 
their mother. In one state alone, 2,508,530 beautiful, useful, insect-destroying native birds 
a year! Think of it! 
The Dodson Cat Trap 
Only those who have had trouble with pesky cats around the premises will fully appreciate 
the DODSON CAT TRAP. It is absolutely guaranteed to catch every cat around the place 
if operated according to directions. 
By changing the bait, this Dodson 
Trap can be made to catch Squirrels, 
Rabbits, Skunks and other animals. 
This trap is built of clear, white 
pine. Size 29 by 18 by 9 inches. 
Price, f.o.b. Kankakee, $5.00. 
Trap is also metal lined for Squir¬ 
rels, Rabbits, Skunks and other animals, 
at $6.50, f.o.b. Kankakee. 
Shipping weight, 20 pounds. 
My booklet entitled “The Truth 
about the Cat’* is full of interesting 
facts about these “bird fiends,” as I 
call them. 
Garden Furniture 
In addition to my Bird Houses, I 
have developed a very beautiful line of 
Garden Furniture. I will gladly mail 
my comprehensive catalog of Dodson 
Garden Furniture to any of my bird- 
loving friends, on request. Dodson Cat Trap, Price $5.00 
liurnett & Weinberger Co. 
Designers Printers Chicago 
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