Is it a good thing to hang birdfeeders outside a window for your indoor cats to watch, a kitty TV of sorts? The answer is two-pronged.

On one hand, indoor-only cats need stimuli for emotional health and just plain fun. Drawing fluttering, chattering birds within natural hunting range is indeed exciting for them, but it can also heighten the predatory instincts that could be released as aggression towards a fur sibling or even you.

A feline focused on a bird, mouse or another cat outside the window may not be aware of something going on behind her. Startling a cat intent on “prey” may cause her to lash out by a natural self-preserving instinct. If another resident animal is on the receiving end of teeth and claws, that one might respond in kind and then the fur will fly.

Since animals tie places and sounds with events (the alarm clock with breakfast, the doorbell with strangers, painful elimination in the litterbox leading to future avoidance of the box…), that chance surprise encounter may actually start a war between two former nap buddies that could last for just minutes or as long as weeks.

Personally I love to invite birds into my yard. They are fun to watch, eat lots of bugs and also the pounds of birdseed I buy each year. I even plant giant sunflowers for them and leave some fruit on the trees while picking.

I used to hang feeders within a few feet of the catio until I found that the birds were using the fencing as a perch. My waiting cats made successful flying leaps to snatch them time and again. The scattered seed also brought mice and gophers at night that my cats also were able to snag. Of course they always brought their catches into the house to “play” with before consuming them. There were also some territorial aggressive behavior issues that surfaced during “hunting” sessions. The feeders were moved across the yard, still within eyesight but safer for birds and cats alike.

While I’m not fond of mice and gophers, I am not happy with finding bits and pieces of them on the rug. I especially dislike finding scattered feathers. Also, the parasites in and on these rodents can be transferred to my cats through close contact and consumption.

Some sort of daily stimulus is very important for keeping your cat(s) happy. This can simply be having a regular playtime each day or by leaving a shipping box or paper shopping bag (handles cut or removed) on the floor for a day or two. Adding an aquarium can double as a kitty point of interest and a people soother.

Whatever you decide to bring to your cat’s indoor-only table, take their happy reactions as a big thank you.