I have always been a cat lover as well as bird lover, and all  my cats have
been outside cats so of course I have had to face the bird hunting  problem
with both my cats and other's.  Fortunately I have seldom had a cat  who really
loved to hunt birds, but many do and it's a real problem.    Many do it when
young, and outgrow it after age 3 or so.  The solution with  my own cats has
always been a collar with a bell or bells on it, and it really  works so long as
the bells actually ring (test them).  Also, I've suggested  this  to
neighbors with young prowlers, and they have always  agreed.  I'd offer to pay for the
collar and bell, etc. if necessary, but  never had to.  My experience has
been that once the cat gets used to the  idea he can't sneak up on them he quits
trying even without the collar.  My  current cat is 14 and he gets his
exercise watching critters and thinking  about chasing them.  By the way, outside
cats do NOT necessarily die young  - all but 1 of mine (who disappeared) have
lived to 15 or older, and a neighbor  had 2 who made it to 18.
If you have a cat hanging around who seems friendly you  might try putting
a collar on it and see what happens.  If someone owns it  they may get the
hint and leave it alone, and if they complain you can say you  thought it was a
stray.  In fact, it may be a stray, and if so the Animal  Control will probably
take it for you if they are convinced of it, though you  may have to catch it
yourself first (Havahart trap).
Hope there is something here that helps a  little.
Don Morgan

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As I have mentioned before, I worked with a feral cat welfare group and the
best thing for any cat owner is to keep your cats inside.  There are way too
many outdoor risks to the health and well-being of your pets - and if you
really truly love them, then best to avoid them.  Cars, coyotes, and disease
are at the forefront of those dangers.  Besides, I have to ask what the
point of a collar and bell would be if the animal is going to park itself
silently under those bird feeders of your bird watching neighbor across the
street thereby still keeping the birds at bay and preventing the birder to
enjoy the birds - and one major reason for offering food to birds in the
first place.  Please know I am not trying to flame anyone who is a cat owner
or posted an opposing view - many of my friends and I are cat owners - and
all of us keep our cats inside just for the three above mentioned risks.
Now, if you must let your cats out - and my neighbor up the street from me
did this for years until her cat passed on - is to walk it on a harness
(yes, cats can be harness trained like a dog) or tether it on a runner like
a dog.  Of course, this still requires your supervision in the case of a
wandering coyote or other predator as your cat won't have any place to go.
The other suggestion I could make is something another friend of mine has
been able to do - get a sizable crate or outdoor pen.  It not only allows
your cat to enjoy some outside time watching the birds at a safe distance
and the birds to continue feeding without threat of being killed - but keeps
the cat safe - and away from the birds.

Best of luck to those with the visiting cats - hopefully you can convince
them of the risks associated to outdoor living - feline diseases like Feline
Leukemia and Feline AIDS are transmittable diseases and they are deadly with
no known cure or preventative - and I know of many a feral cat taken out by
predation by coyotes or hit by cars.

Donna Lorello
Branford