Protecting Slow worms from cats

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   My neighbour and I have a thriving community of Slow worms and Common frogs in our gardens, our problem being that we also both keep cats and dont know how best to protect the lizards and frogs.
 Any suggestions?
Up to now I try to provide cat free zones in the two main areas that I have found the frogs and slow worms. I also let the borders grow full of weeds in areas where plants are sparce, partly to give them extra cover and partly because I use the dandelion leaves to feed some of my other pets.

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zarozinia Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 12 Aug 2009 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 5	Post Options Post Reply Quote zarozinia Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Protecting Slow worms from cats Posted: 12 Aug 2009 at 8:55pm
	My neighbour and I have a thriving community of Slow worms and Common frogs in our gardens, our problem being that we also both keep cats and dont know how best to protect the lizards and frogs. Any suggestions? Up to now I try to provide cat free zones in the two main areas that I have found the frogs and slow worms. I also let the borders grow full of weeds in areas where plants are sparce, partly to give them extra cover and partly because I use the dandelion leaves to feed some of my other pets.

Suzi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1025	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 13 Aug 2009 at 12:52am
	Places that they can go under - like pieces of tin or black plastic sheeting weighted down are suitable for both frogs and slow worms. Any plastic I put down has half a dozen slow worms under in a matter of days and usually some frogs too. There are cats here (not mine) but they next to never get anything out of my garden as its all under cover.
	Suz

Liz Heard Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 27 Apr 2010 Location: South West Status: Offline Points: 1429	Post Options Post Reply Quote Liz Heard Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 30 Apr 2010 at 7:33pm
	i cant help you regarding lizards but i can tell you that despite having multiple cats all around me (neighbours) and owning one myself, ive never yet seen a cat with a frog. my Monty has never brought anything in other than a dead rat in the 7 years ive had a frog pool. and this year over 100 specimens came to breed. i wouldnt worry too much. in the wild, frogs have many enemies but hopping away is often simple and effective. and lets not forget, frogs like to come out when its wet. cats hate it then. and when its dry its the opposite. cats out, frogs in. the two dont meet that often. try plenty of cover for the lizards = rocks, woodpiles etc and encourage ivy growth. good luck! ben

Taryn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Taryn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2010 at 1:11pm
	I have a problem with my cat, during the summer he catches several Slow Worms every week. I have put lots of things around the garden for them to hide under but it doesn't seem to have made any difference. I'm at a loss as to what else I can do....apart from getting rid of the cat.

Suzi Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 06 Apr 2005 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1025	Post Options Post Reply Quote Suzi Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 02 Jun 2010 at 6:24pm
	Is he catching them in your garden or nearby? If it's nearby then not a lot you can do except ask the neighbours to provide cover. If they are very garden-proud you might not get much of response! A lot of folk don't give a damn when cats catch slow worms, so good luck!
	Suz

Taryn Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Member Joined: 02 Jun 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 2	Post Options Post Reply Quote Taryn Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 05 Jun 2010 at 11:05pm
	Hi Suzi. Good point and wasn't sure about that so I've been watching him this week. Although he has caught a few in our garden it seems like he is bringing most of them back from a bit of waste ground between two houses in the next road. I managed to save one, it's got a few tooth holes in it but it's ok at the moment and healing quite well. Just not sure where to let it go now. I'm reluctant to release it nearby in case he catches it again.