WANT MORE BIRDS IN YOUR GARDEN? KEEP YOUR CAT INSIDE

I didn’t decide to keep my cat indoors for the sake of the birds, but I’m convinced the many more feathered friends I now have in my garden is a result of that decision.

The main reason Charlie never goes outside is because our cat before him, Jack-Jack, had been run over by a car on the busy road next to our house in densely populated North Shore.

Jack-Jack was only about two or three years old – the SPCA wasn’t sure of his age; I’m told he had been found on the side of the road with a right hind leg so mangled they had to amputate it – and once we were confident that he knew this was home, was allowed to wander as he pleased, just like many other domestic cats in New Zealand.

My children loved him. My husband, who works from home, loved the feline companionship throughout the day when the rest of us were at school or at the office.

And for me, Jack-Jack was a wonderful, attentive garden companion, even if he chewed on the long blades of lemongrass though I told him to leave that shrub alone. Once we had to pull a long, thin string of lemongrass fibre straight out of his nose when he kept trying – and failing – to cough it out! He was curious about my planting and weeding, and loved lounging close by when he saw me tending to my vegetable beds.

In short, he was often in the garden with me. I had not noticed the absence of birds then, but in hindsight, of course Jack-Jack was a deterrent. (Without him to scare off the birds now, I am particularly looking forward to participating in the 2023 New Zealand Garden Bird Survey, from June 24 to July 2.)

He was not the most graceful of cats. His gait was necessarily lopsided, but he climbed trees and yes, caught birds. More than once, we found decapitated and/or mutilated carcasses in the garden. Thank goodness he never brought the birds inside, though there was that one time he thought the entirely whole, still-twitching mouse would be a nice offering in front of the TV.

I never doubted that Jack-Jack was living his best life – until one day, he just wasn’t fast enough. I will never forget my husband tearfully telling me our cat was dead.

I was already on the bus, on my way home from work. I grabbed my sunglasses out of my handbag, put them on, and started to cry. I never want to lose another pet that way.

Which is why, a year later, when as a family, we decided we were up for another cat, we also committed to keeping it indoors. After all, that road next to our house is as busy as ever and we did not want to risk losing another cat to traffic.

I didn’t realise it then, but it was a decision that would impact the health of my garden as well. Of course, it’s only logical if you think about it: no cat equals more birds, equals more insectivores to deal with common pests, equals more crops.

I admit, it also means more birds to mess with mulch and freshly sown seeds, but there was also the morning I set out to cut back the passionfruit, and found nestled within the tangle of vines a bird’s nest containing four perfect, brown speckled eggs. I decided the passionfruit could be cut back in another few weeks.

Charlie was 10 years old when we adopted him some 18 months ago. Knowing that kittens get adopted quickly, we wanted to give an older cat a home. Besides, a senior puss may be content to stay inside, we reasoned. In addition, Charlie only has one eye, so the SPCA handlers stressed that he should ideally be kept inside (to be fair, they said this for Jack-Jack too).

Charlie has the run of the house, and we built him a rather palatial catio on the deck. My husband added shelves from timber off-cuts for Charlie to climb, and I retired a three-tiered planterbox for him to nap in (he seems to favour the middle tier).

I don’t have a garden “helper” now, but I do have more birds in my garden; and I do love having a cat in my home and in my heart.