Cats + window bird feeders -- traumatizing?

[Anonymous]

OK, dumb question. We have a lazy indoor cat who doesn't get much stimulation since we live in a condo and both work full time. I got a window bird feeder to entertain him and he just loves the damn thing. The window is covered with his paw + nose prints as he's always jumping at the glass to try and get to the tasty morsels. I think this is great entertainment for him, but DH is worried he's being traumatized because he can never catch anything! He's even gone so far as to suggest we get the cat a harness and let him run around to hunt birds on the balcony. (Needless to say, this is a non-starter, but it's kind of adorable how concerned DH is about the mental health of the cat.) So, other cat owners, is there anything to this "traumatizing" theory or is the window feeder just like Kitty TV?

BTW, before anyone says it, our terrace is massive so no other condo owners are getting any bird poop or seeds on their property. Really.

[Anonymous]

This will develop perseverance in your cat---an admirable trait. He will keep trying to get that bird "next time"

Is your DH not worried about traumatizing all the birds?

I'm guessing you don't have kids, if you have time to worry about your cat's mental health...

[Anonymous]

I bet if he was actually outside he wouldn't know what to do with one if he caught it.

[Anonymous]

Ha, nope, we definitely do not have kids. We're actually expecting our first in a few months and I expect the cat's mental health will drop pretty far down DH's list of priorities. PP, you're right that our dumb ass cat wouldn't know what to do with a bird if he caught it!

[Anonymous]

Nah, you are not frustrating him or traumatizing him. Just let him do it. He is having fun.

We do the same thing for our 3 cats. Eventually, he will get the point that he cannot get them, and he'll probably just watch them. That is what ours do now.

[Anonymous]

Don't woodcock block me, man!

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't think so, but it is easy for me to say because I do not have whiskers.

I was reading an article in the Reader's Digest a few months back and it stated something that interested me.

You know those red laser light toys cats like to chase? Well the Digest stated that while cats liked to play with the laser light by chasing it over + over, it also said that they get frustrated if at the end they do not end up with "anything." In other words, they never get the prize.

So...While your kitty may get lots of entertainment from trying to catch these birdies, he also may gain a lot of frustration as well since in the end he never ends up with any.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Trust me....I have two kitties and it breaks my heart to see them climb up my window screens to "catch" the birdies in the trees, but they are strictly indoors for safety purposes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This will develop perseverance in your cat---an admirable trait. He will keep trying to get that bird "next time"

Is your DH not worried about traumatizing all the birds?

I'm guessing you don't have kids, if you have time to worry about your cat's mental health...

People with kids can still be concerned about their cat's mental health.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nah, you are not frustrating him or traumatizing him. Just let him do it. He is having fun.

We do the same thing for our 3 cats. Eventually, he will get the point that he cannot get them, and he'll probably just watch them. That is what ours do now.

Agree. I initially put up feeders for my cats' entertainment, now I'm into birding a bit, have bought some books, put out different types of seed and am sticking up window strike decals. It's fine for the cats--like tv. If you are into enrichment toys that make cats work/problem-solve to get treats also work great--there's a wooden doodad with lots of holes that I'm considering buying that is supposed to be very entertaining.

[Anonymous]

Don't you get more birdshit on the balcony?