DIY toy guide
Window Bird-Feeder "Cat TV"
Bring the birds to the glass for hours of live entertainment
Fix a bird feeder to the outside of a window your cat can watch from, and give an indoor cat a daily stream of live, ever-changing entertainment — the original "cat TV".
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Under £10
🧺 You will need
- A suction-cup or bracket-mounted bird feeder for outdoor windows
- Suitable wild bird seed (no products harmful to birds)
- A cat perch, shelf or sturdy piece of furniture by the window
🔧 How to make it
- Choose a window with a clear outdoor view where your cat likes to sit.
- Clean the outside of the glass and press the suction feeder firmly into place, or fit the bracket.
- Fill it with appropriate wild bird seed.
- Set up a comfortable perch or cushion on the inside so your cat can settle and watch.
- Give the birds a few days to discover the feeder, then enjoy the daily show together.
💡 Tips
Position the feeder slightly to one side rather than dead centre so nervous birds feel safer. If your cat gets over-aroused and frustrated, follow a watching session with an interactive wand game so they get a real "catch" to release the energy.
Safety: Keep the feeder clean and stocked with cat-safe, bird-safe seed, and site it where cats outdoors cannot ambush visiting birds. Ensure any perch is stable and cannot topple.
📝 Notes
Watching birds is one of the richest forms of passive enrichment for indoor cats — genuinely absorbing, and good for the local birdlife too when the feeder is kept clean.
