Kids, cats and squirrels (help needed)

[Oscar]

All,

And now for something completely different . We've got wild squirrels in our back yard and we love to have them there. They're beautiful. But some time ago, a few houses down the street, someone bought 2 young cats. The kids love those cats, because they're really cute and they come for a cuddle all the time. The problem is that the cats go after the squirrels . So the squirrels pack up and leave . Now my challenge is to keep the cats from our back yard while hanging on to the squirrels. That's not so easy, because most measures to keep the cats away also keep the squirrels away (e.g. ultrasonic sound).

Suggestions, anyone? (Note that I'm in densely populated Holland, I can't just shoot the cats ).

Thanks & regards,
Oscar

[Brian]

You have a bit of a problem Oscar and a decision to make.

As you know we have both cats and squirrels and neither bother the other as our feeders are in the trees where the cats cannot get the squirrels as they feed. However there is a problem, cats may go after squirrels but grey squirrels are a killer of birds, they take eggs and young from the nest.

I like to see wildlife but do not worry if a cat should get a squirrels as the squirrel will have destroyed a number of small birds. Its nature in tooth and claw.

[Bensdexta]

And now for something completely different . We've got wild squirrels in our back yard and we love to have them there. They're beautiful.

What colour are the squirrels?

If grey, you need more cats. Also heard they are very tasty to eat.

Serious efforts are being made in parts of UK to get rid of greys, eg Anglesey is now clear of them, reds only.

I think reds are quite common on the continent, I've seen them in Germany, how about Holland?

Happy New Year

[Oscar]

"Our" squirrels are the indiginous red ones. They're smaller and less muscular than the grey squirrels. As for the cats, they really are adorable but I wish there was a way to keep them out of the back yard (the front yard is OK, because the squirrels don't come there). I'm considering the primitive yet effective approach of a bucket of water...

[frode]

try the waterhose! Or catch the cat and hold it under the tap until it understands

[Oscar]

Today we went out for dinner, on foot. The two cats followed us all the way. We tried to shake them off, but whenever they lost sight of us they started mi-ow'ing in the most heart-rendering way. Touching, but we also felt a bit smothered. Eventually we turned back, because they were crossing more and more roads and we really couldn't have them sitting at the door of the restaurant all night. The last I saw of them was them sitting side by side, getting smaller in the rear-view mirror of the car. When we get back home, they'll still be there.

[Bensdexta]

Delighted you have reds.

Suggest you take a look here:
http://www.redsquirrels.info/Feeding.html

If you need further advice contact: Dr Craig Shuttleworth or Raj Jones.
Craig is a world expert on reds.

[Oscar]

Thanks!!

[The Swanndri Guy]

Oscar can we get some pictures please?, no not the cats but the Squirrels, we don't have them down here in New Zealand! We do have something slightly similar and definitely not as cute from Australia TSG.

[Oscar]

Oscar can we get some pictures please?, no not the cats but the Squirrels, we don't have them down here in New Zealand! We do have something slightly similar and definitely not as cute from Australia TSG.

^---Let me know if the photo doesn't appear. It's from my Facebook page so it might be hidden from public view.

[Oscar]

As for the cats, here they are after hijacking our grocery crate. They occupy the crate when we can't let them into the house. The crate is in the front yard, which is OK. The photo is poor because it was taken through the window.

[The Swanndri Guy]

Nice picture, do you get Bats hanging around in buildings and trees or is this the wrong time of year? TSG.

[Oscar]

Nice picture, do you get Bats hanging around in buildings and trees or is this the wrong time of year? TSG.

I saw plenty of flying dogs in Oz, even in central Sydney. You won't find them here. There are bats, but much smaller than the ones I saw in Oz. In the summer, they fly around when it gets dark. I never saw one hanging from a tree, they probably hide somewhere.