Designer invents cat collar that alerts prey when feline is about to pounce and could save the lives of 55 million birds killed by pets each year

It's the invention that will put the cat among the pigeons – and let the pigeons live to tell the tale.

A designer has created a collar that works out when a feline is about to pounce, and quickly warns its prey.

Philip Yorke claims his collar could save the lives of many of the 55 million birds killed by Britain’s 11 million cats each year.

The 82-year-old said he first came up with the idea when he saw Maggie, his local pub’s Bengal cat, walk in with a dead sparrow hanging from her mouth.

He noticed that when cats hunt they crouch down in a ‘stealth attack mode’, by moving their hindquarters from side-to-side to create the lowest profile possible.

His collar uses miniature motion sensors that recognise when a cat is displaying this type of hunting behaviour and emits the warning cry of a blackbird or hawk via a small amplifier to frighten off the intended victim.

Mr Yorke said: ‘Until now, cat owners were forced to use bells or bibs when trying to stop their pets killing birds. But there is a new, unique and harmless way of preventing this behaviour.’

Maggie’s owner, Bryan Mullarney, 60, who used to run The Railway Tavern in Dereham, Norfolk, said the collar could be the only thing that will stop his pet’s killing spree: ‘I had tried to fit Maggie with a bell which was meant to alert the bird before it was too late for them to get away. 

‘However, Maggie is smart and learnt how to move stealthily enough not to make any noise.’

Mr Yorke and BirdSonic are now looking for further investment for the collar, which can be switched on and off when the cat passes through a catflap.