We have two much-loved young cats, originally found abandoned in our
log store (so please don't start the anti-cat venom).  This year we
were thrilled to find the swallows nesting in our open-fronted
cartshed garage for the first time.  We have watched them building
their nest, and now feeding their young.  As you can imagine, there is
a conflict of interest here!

We are constantly sending the cats packing from the garage vicinity.
Apart from the danger to the swallows when they dive-bomb the cats to
scare them away, we feel it is also distressing them (the birds, not
the cats), and wondered whether to buy one of these sonic cat scarers
sited at the front of the garage for use during the swallow-rearing
season.  Can anyone who has one tell me:
Will it upset the swallows?
Is it audible to humans?
What (roughly) is the range? - we don't want to stop the cats going
outside, obviously.

I would be very glad to have some calm replies!

-- 
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 15:46:55 +0100, Sally Thompson 
wrote:


>We have two much-loved young cats, originally found abandoned in our
>log store (so please don't start the anti-cat venom).  This year we
>were thrilled to find the swallows nesting in our open-fronted
>cartshed garage for the first time.  We have watched them building
>their nest, and now feeding their young.  As you can imagine, there is
>a conflict of interest here!
>
>We are constantly sending the cats packing from the garage vicinity.
>Apart from the danger to the swallows when they dive-bomb the cats to
>scare them away, we feel it is also distressing them (the birds, not
>the cats), and wondered whether to buy one of these sonic cat scarers
>sited at the front of the garage for use during the swallow-rearing
>season.  Can anyone who has one tell me:
>Will it upset the swallows?
>Is it audible to humans?
>What (roughly) is the range? - we don't want to stop the cats going
>outside, obviously.
>
>I would be very glad to have some calm replies!


Sally,
Maplin sell and sonic "Insect" repeller that I bought just for fun to see if
it'd work. It doesn't repell any insects I tried it on. The thing DID work
electronically - I looked at the output on a 'scope and it it generates a nasty
looking square wave that sweeps about 18kHz to 30kHz. At that frequency no
person is going to be aware of it. The power output is very low and doesn't seem
to bother birds either. Cats I haven't tried it on so can't say. My *guess* is
that if it'd bother the cats it'd also bother the birds - *although* the thing
is very directional. This is good for what you want of course. The sound waves
are quickly attenuated in air so range I would say is effectively only a few
feet.  You'd also have to get one with a decent power output and I think that
might cost . Maybe someone has done some more detailed experimenting - but
from what I've done, as I say, I didn't find them very effective.

I'm off to take a look at your B&B - we like to make the occasional weekend
getaway to somewhere *very quiet* :-) Does your place qualify :-)

"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
news:1lope1550gbhtuij51tnf30p6jhpbabn2o@4ax.com...

> We have two much-loved young cats, originally found abandoned in our
> log store (so please don't start the anti-cat venom).  This year we
> were thrilled to find the swallows nesting in our open-fronted
> cartshed garage for the first time.  We have watched them building
> their nest, and now feeding their young.  As you can imagine, there is
> a conflict of interest here!
>
> We are constantly sending the cats packing from the garage vicinity.
> Apart from the danger to the swallows when they dive-bomb the cats to
> scare them away, we feel it is also distressing them (the birds, not
> the cats), and wondered whether to buy one of these sonic cat scarers
> sited at the front of the garage for use during the swallow-rearing
> season.  Can anyone who has one tell me:
> Will it upset the swallows?


Dunno. Ours is fairly close to a bluetit box and they did nest there this 
year.


> Is it audible to humans?


Some. Mostly younger ones.Not to me but I dont fall into that category.


> What (roughly) is the range? - we don't want to stop the cats going
> outside, obviously.


Dunno, mine works over about 10ft. I dont think its the sound as much as the 
detection range.I very much doubt it would stop cats going outside , it will 
just encourage them to go elsewhere.  Its also quite possible that something 
tempting like a birds nest might override the annoyance from the noise.

>
> I would be very glad to have some calm replies!
>

The one I have isnt perfect but definitely  much better than nothing. Uses 
rechargeables which last about 2-3 weeks. Can be run off the mains as well 
with a transformer.

Bought it from 'charlies stores' (google for it) cost about 25.

-- 
Tumbleweed

email replies not necessary but to contact use;
tumbleweednews at hotmail dot com

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 15:48:12 GMT, dave  wrote:


>On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 15:46:55 +0100, Sally Thompson 
>wrote:
>
>>We have two much-loved young cats, originally found abandoned in our

<snip query about sonic cat deterrent>

>
>Sally,
>Maplin sell and sonic "Insect" repeller that I bought just for fun to see if
>it'd work. It doesn't repell any insects I tried it on. The thing DID work
>electronically - I looked at the output on a 'scope and it it generates a nasty
>looking square wave that sweeps about 18kHz to 30kHz. At that frequency no
>person is going to be aware of it. The power output is very low and doesn't seem
>to bother birds either. Cats I haven't tried it on so can't say. My *guess* is
>that if it'd bother the cats it'd also bother the birds - *although* the thing
>is very directional. This is good for what you want of course. The sound waves
>are quickly attenuated in air so range I would say is effectively only a few
>feet.  You'd also have to get one with a decent power output and I think that
>might cost . Maybe someone has done some more detailed experimenting - but
>from what I've done, as I say, I didn't find them very effective.
>
>I'm off to take a look at your B&B - we like to make the occasional weekend
>getaway to somewhere *very quiet* :-) Does your place qualify :-)


Very quiet indeed - apart from the noise of the swallows going on red
alert when they see a cat<g>.
Thanks for your reply Dave.  I think I'll just have to try one and see
if it bothers the birds at all.


-- 
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 17:19:08 +0100, "Tumbleweed"
 wrote:


>
>
>"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
>news:1lope1550gbhtuij51tnf30p6jhpbabn2o@4ax.com...


<snip query about sonic cat scarers>


>> Will it upset the swallows?
>
>Dunno. Ours is fairly close to a bluetit box and they did nest there this 
>year.


That sounds hopeful.


>> Is it audible to humans?
>
>Some. Mostly younger ones.Not to me but I dont fall into that category.


Nor me, sadly.


>> What (roughly) is the range? - we don't want to stop the cats going
>> outside, obviously.
>
>Dunno, mine works over about 10ft. I dont think its the sound as much as the 
>detection range.I very much doubt it would stop cats going outside , it will 
>just encourage them to go elsewhere.  Its also quite possible that something 
>tempting like a birds nest might override the annoyance from the noise.


Possibly - but we thought it might just help.


>The one I have isnt perfect but definitely  much better than nothing. Uses 
>rechargeables which last about 2-3 weeks. Can be run off the mains as well 
>with a transformer.
>
>Bought it from 'charlies stores' (google for it) cost about 25.


Will go and google.  Thanks for the reply.

-- 
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 17:32:36 +0100, Sally Thompson
 wrote:


>On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 17:19:08 +0100, "Tumbleweed"
> wrote:
>
>>
>>
>>"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
>>news:1lope1550gbhtuij51tnf30p6jhpbabn2o@4ax.com...
>
><snip query about sonic cat scarers>
>
>>> Will it upset the swallows?
>>
>>Dunno. Ours is fairly close to a bluetit box and they did nest there this 
>>year.
>
>That sounds hopeful.

>>Bought it from 'charlies stores' (google for it) cost about 25.
>
>Will go and google.  Thanks for the reply.


[Later] Having googled, I see that it says it "protects birds . . .
and feeders", so that sounds okay.  I also see they are in Newtown,
which we can easily pass through in the week on the way to
Machynlleth, so will try to pick one up then.  Thanks again.

-- 
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
news:8g0qe112uh514k8vfut84skre9klge7l3l@4ax.com...

> [Later] Having googled, I see that it says it "protects birds . . .
> and feeders", so that sounds okay.  I also see they are in Newtown,
> which we can easily pass through in the week on the way to
> Machynlleth, so will try to pick one up then.  Thanks again.
>
> -- 
> Sally in Shropshire, UK
> bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
> Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: 
> http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk




Much OT !

http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk/

The page runs out on my browser - I was just enjoying a nice description - 
then ------ (very annoying) !
I have emailed the webmaster on this, so not to worry yourself.

Pete
www.thecanalshop.com

On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:37:05 +0100, "Peter Stockdale"
 wrote:


>"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
>news:8g0qe112uh514k8vfut84skre9klge7l3l@4ax.com...
>> [Later] Having googled, I see that it says it "protects birds . . .
>> and feeders", so that sounds okay.  I also see they are in Newtown,
>> which we can easily pass through in the week on the way to
>> Machynlleth, so will try to pick one up then.  Thanks again.
>>
>> -- 
>> Sally in Shropshire, UK
>> bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
>> Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: 
>> http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk
>
>Much OT !
>
>http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk/
>
>The page runs out on my browser - I was just enjoying a nice description - 
>then ------ (very annoying) !
>I have emailed the webmaster on this, so not to worry yourself.


Well, that's me as well wearing a different hat - got your email and
have replied (and sorted the problem I think).  Thank you!



-- 
Sally in Shropshire, UK
bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

"Sally Thompson"  wrote in message 
news:vfhse1lms11e8flduu3l5cpp3cbdg90khs@4ax.com...

> On Sun, 31 Jul 2005 23:37:05 +0100, "Peter Stockdale"
>  wrote:
>
-
..
>
> Well, that's me as well wearing a different hat - got your email and
> have replied (and sorted the problem I think).  Thank you!
>
>
>
> -- 
> Sally in Shropshire, UK
> bed and breakfast near Ludlow: http://www.stonybrook-ludlow.co.uk
> Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church: 
> http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk



A woman of many talents !
Regards
Pete
www.thecanalshop.com