THE NEW CAT ROOM! (or the Cat Room #2)

Roberta wrote:

I was gonna ask if there are cat proof bird baths. But then I realized what a dopey question that was. There's no such thing as cat proof.

However, see the following link, which claims to be cat proof.

http://www.jarrahbark.com/env_arismac_bird_bath.html

That's a really interesting link , Roberta, but I fear beyond my meagre means. Actually, I haven't seen Ms Poppy show much interest in wanting to kill the birds. She just sits in the middle of the lawn & watches. For hours. I think they've got her intimidated, those birds!

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Vivien wrote:

that was a good bit of research Roberta

How are your woodworking skills msolga? Himself made a wooden post about 5ft/5ft 6in high with sticky out supports at the bottom (techinical term that ) to stop it falling in the wind and a simple wooden platform on top (the one the squirrels were sitting on) - we have an old metal bowl on it with water in and the birds love it.

Cheaper than buying a ready made birdbath as well.

Paddy-the-demon-cat did make it to the top once but by the time he scrambled up there any birds would be long gone.

Alternatively you could install the bird bath on top of a brick plinth, to make it much taller and harder for cats to jump silently.

my father took a water supply out to his and leaves it dripping very slightly, to constantly refill the bird bath - - there's a healthy population of frogs amongst the flowers below it!

I confess my "woodworking skills" are on the negligible side, Vivien.
But can you imagine the "digging skills" required to anchor a 5 - 6 ft post with a platform on top, in darkest Oz, in the middle of a diabolically hot, dry summer? The ground is like concrete, I tell you! Shocked

Apart from that, when the frenzied northerly winds whip through during January & February, they'd probably knock my brave little structure over!
Sadly, I don't see this as a viable option.

But I think himself sounds a lovely man to have built such a structure! His heart is clearly in the right place. He's made a lot of birds happy! Very Happy

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I'm thinking I may give the birdbath a go & see what eventuates.

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I'm hoping Miranda is happy & well this weekend, Deb.

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msolga wrote:

I'm thinking I may give the birdbath a go & see what eventuates.

Hope it works out. I'm rooting for the boids. Also hoping that Poppy is more the voyeur than the hunter.

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Roberta wrote:

msolga wrote:
I'm thinking I may give the birdbath a go & see what eventuates.

Hope it works out. I'm rooting for the boids. Also hoping that Poppy is more the voyeur than the hunter.

From closely watching her behaviour, I suspect that that's rather what she is, Roberta. A boid watcher. I really hope so.

She seems to me to be more interested in mice & those poor little miniature lizardy critters I keep having to rescue from her.

Now Flatty, he was completely another matter!! He had it in for boids, that one!

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But it's still an idea in the state of flux ....

I'll see what I think about it next week.

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re: birdbath stand - it isn't concreted in - it balances on a cross of timber at the bottom - it's never fallen over in severe gales when the chairs have been blown all over the garden.

I hope one squirrel hasn't met his maker - I haven't seen the 2 of them playing. As they only come to eat one at a time I can't tell if there's only one now or not

Rosie is curled up in my chair so I thought I may as well come online - she doesn't like being disturbed!

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Fingers crossed that there are still two squirrels, Vivien!

I'd like to write more but I don't want to push my luck. (A2K this morning is going wobbly & slow & criticall message-y on & off.)

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I saw a bird feeding thingy that you can stick to the outside of your window with little suction cups. It's like a small clear plastic or whatever shelve thing. Doesn't that sound like good entertainment! I think Mysan would go completely crazy and the birds would probably be traumatized for the rest of their lives...

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I tried one of those years ago and the birds never touched it! even though it was a hard winter. Oz birds might have more sense?

You know the brackets that you hang hanging baskets on? you could attach one of those somewhere? and hang a net with nuts and stuff.

We still have 2 squirrels Very Happy

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/vivien/esquirrels063b.jpg

I really thought one had met his maker - probably at the demon cat's paws!

Rosie has shredded the boxes to my recently arrived, expensive large canvasses so I've had to drape an old sheet over them before she gets to the canvas itself Rolling Eyes

40 inch square canvasses are tooo expensive for scratching posts Evil or Very Mad

.

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I love your squirrel pair, Vivien. What are their names?

Hmmmm ... my "Oz Birds" have gone nowhere near their bath, either! Perhaps because it's actually been raining quite a lot? I'm hoping they use it when things get hideously hot & dry again -inevitably! If not, perhaps I should put a flower arrangement in it? :wink:

I'm feeling a bit anxious tonight. I'm heading off with a friend for a few days tomorrow - a cottage near the sea. But it means that I'll be boarding Poppy for the first time & that makes me feel a bit like a traitor. Sad

She loves her yard & freedom & is so happy there! But I've considered the alternatives. No, I don't think it'd be a good idea for my neighbour to feed her. That's not the same as someone being here for 3 and a bit days. And no, there was no one who could stay in my house while I'm away. My friend, A, offered to drop by each day, but .... I'm simply not comfortable with the idea of her being alone here for that period of time. I'd be very worried about her. So off to the boarding place it is! I checked out the place & the cats' quarters earlier in the week. Asked them lots of questions & it seems seem a good option. It's at a Vet's practice, too. So I think she'll be OK .... won't she?

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Yes, Olga me darling, she will be fine.

I found the vet option returned Oscar and Miranda to me in glowing health, with white teeth, Oscar trimmed down, and Miranda fattened up, sleek and shining fur, and a new and pleasing gratitude for the freedoms of home.

Don't worry!

PS: When I had a bird bath the birds ADORED it...and it was a wonder!

Had to fill it several times a day, though, because the filthy little smeggers filthied it up, and splashed it over the sides, constantly!

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Thank you, Deb!

Of course she'll be ok.

But, ya know, it does make me fel rather anxious & sad. I have never been exactly good at this! (Used to drive my ex crazy, everytime we travelled!)

I think I might feel a bit better after I have actually "done the deed"?

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How's Miranda going, Deb?

No word from you for a while.

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I know just how you feel about leaving mspoppy - you know they'll be well looked after but .....

We leave ours with my parents now but though Paddy settles pretty well, Rosie doesn't. She's a stubborn little madame and she will play with them reluctantly but won't be touched and lurks behind settees and under coffee tables cringing Rolling Eyes

She's ecstatic when i get back though and appreciates me for a short while! She's spoilt rotten as well the ungrateful little madame - cream, freshly cooked chicken etc etc

We haven't named the squirrels except to describe one as 'fat tail' as he/she has a fatter more luxuriant tail and is much more confident, sitting just the other side of the patio door eating nuts and looking at me a couple of feet away.

Have a great time at the coast - it's sunny today but not much above freezing so I envy you emerald-greenly

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Thanks, Vivien, I will have a good time. Haven't been away from home for a while ...

Even though I know she'll be much safer boarding, than here at home with someone feeding her, the idea of her being captive, in a strange place, is upsetting. Especially since she was abandonned before I adopted her. Sad

She's such a dear, trusting little thing .... yet here am I plotting something I doubt she'll like much at all!

Yeah, I know. I'm pathetic.

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So Rosie is your household's "boss cat", Vivien? You know, the one who rules the roost!:wink:

How does Paddy respond to being left at your parents' house?

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Have a wonderful vacation, msolga. Don't worry about Poppy. She may not be happy, but she'll be well looked after. And she'll forgive you when you get her home.

You mentioned that the birds aren't using their bath. So you decided to get one. Hope they eventually start splashing around.

Happy trip.

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Thank you, dearie!

Yes, I figure that she won't be 100% happy, but that's better than leaving her here at home alone with just a bit of daily human contact. I think I'd be worried the whole time I was away.

And she'll be soooooo happy to get her yard back on my return! Very Happy

A thought: maybe the birds will explore the bath while Poppy & I are away? (Though, to tell the truth, they don't appear to be exactly intimidated by her!)

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THE NEW CAT ROOM! (or the Cat Room #2)

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