Adding a bell to cat collars could help to protect wild birds, says RSPCA.

Charity asks pet owners to take precautions after rare white blackbird is attacked

The RSPCA has issued a reminder to pet owners to protect their garden birds, after a rare white blackbird was injured by a cat.

The albino fledgling was taken to Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre in Cheshire after it had been caught by a cat.

Examination revealed that the bird had a fractured leg and would not survive in the wild, so it had to be put to sleep, according to the charity.

Branch manager Lee Stewart said its death was “such a shame”. It is thought that the bird was a particularly vulnerable target because it was young and more noticeable due to its colour.

The animal welfare charity is now urging pet owners to take steps to protect the wild birds in their garden from falling prey to their cat’s natural hunting behaviour.

RSPCA wildlife scientific officer Llewelyn Lowen said:  “Adding a bell to a cat’s collar is a simple but effective way of alerting wildlife to the cat’s presence. While some collars are undoubtedly a risk for a cat, the type which snap apart appear to be relatively free from the likelihood of getting the cat caught and therefore injured."

Other suggested solutions included limiting a cat’s access to the garden during dawn and dusk, when birds will be at particular risk, and mounting bird tables on a metal post, making it impossible for cats to climb.