Unwelcome Predators

I have a good relationship with my neighbor - except for her 5 outdoor cats. Despite offering suggestions... well forget that she is not going to change no matter what I say or have said. What i'm trying to say is she is simply irresponsible. She has bird feeders hanging from every bush, tree limb etc., yet she scatters bird seed on the ground along with leftover dinner food scraps.

She's overjoyed when her cats deposit dead rats near her steps and wrings her hands when she finds another dead bird or squirrel. i don't understand why she doesn't realize the rats are coming because of her leaving food out. She leaves food out for the feral cats also. She feeds her cats inside and outside.

I can't even count the times when i'm inside, hear a commotion and it's her chasing one of her cats and trying to "rescue" a baby squirrel or fledgling bird from near death, she then says "I don't know why they do this, they get fed enough." Grrrrrrrrr.

Last summer I helped her rescue a baby squirrel, her cats had killed the baby's two siblings. My neighbor placed the baby in a cage to care for it. I could hear mama squirrel frantically chattering, jumping from roof to branch. She knew her baby was alive and well. I encouraged my neighbor to release the infant and place it up on a tree. As we watched the mama came down the tree, snatched the baby by the scruff of it's neck and proceeded back to the safety of her nest.

Now spring is approaching and wildlife mating season will be in full swing and the cats will be in full predator mode. I am always chasing them out of my yard as they like to "potty" in my garden. Despite the fact that cats are not native to North America we seem to accept them as such. I don't hate cats, but their impact on wildlife can be enormous and I just wish my neighbor and others would be more responsible, but sadly i know the carnage will continue.