I'm taking a short break. I just got done chasing three cats and a bird around my house. My tuxedo, the hunter, brought me a present. He is now grounded and very insulted I would treat him this way after being gifted.
All three cats are belled. I don't let them out until after 10 am and get them in by twilight particularly to protect the wild critters. I have them trained with a big canned food breakfast right before they go out and then again when they come in for the evening. I live in the perfect environment for cats to be safe so really don't want to turn them in to inside only cats. But damn.
I eventually caught the poor birdie. Wrapped him in a towel and let him catch his breath. Checked him over then walked him over to the far side of my neighbor's property and let him fly into a tree. Seems ok
Bird 1 Cats 0. This time
#badcat
I have very rarely found feathers in the yard, maybe once every other year or so, but they catch a ton of mice and rats.
There have been a few times a scrub jay has dropped in to drink from the cat's water dish and been pinned down, shreiking. All three times I've managed to run out to the patio, and with the cat momentary distracted the birds have flown off.