Our cat lies in wait around our bird feeders, He slays them. My wife is upset. What should we do?

We have had the cat for a while, its an outside cat, but lately, we (my wife esp.) have been getting into attracting birds, they really make time on the front porch, alot more enjoyable...Ideally, we would like a reliable way to modify the behavior, we dont want to get rid of the cat
Answers:
Hmm that is some damn good redneck entertainment right there!! Hmm... put the bird feeder on a metal pole in the yard, high enough and far enough away from anything that will let the cat enjoy its natural instinct.

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put the feeder somewhere else that the cat cannot get to, or stop feeding the birds?

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if you notice your cat haning around the bird feeder, squirt with a diluted amount of vinegar in water or full on with hose. do this every time you notice, your cat will soon learn that thier behaviour is wrong. I have had cats AND birds in the same house for 18 years, and not once have I had a problem. My birds fly free around the house with the cats inside.
Also put a bell on your cats collar to scare away the birds when the cat comes near. (this should be a given if you have an outside cat, especially with other wildlife)

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Get rid of the bird feeders and bird baths. Our cat did that too. My dad reluctantly took down the bird bath.

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get one of those breakaway cat collars that has a bell on it, everytime the cat moves, the bell will ring giving the birds a warning sighn and enough time to get away

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Hmmm. You could do what I do-only put food out during the heat of the day when your cat is usually napping. Other suggestions: Buy a hanging bird feeder and put it up where the cat can't get it. Only fill the feeder once a day and try to do it at a time when the cat is away doing other things. Put the cat in the garage until the birds eat all their food. When the cat waits by the bird feeder turn the hose on him--it won't hurt him but it will discourage him from hanging around the feeder.

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Bells on collars don't always work. If possible, put the bird feeder where your cat can't reach it. Squirting your cat with water every time he so much as looks at the feeder may help. Soon he will ignore them altogether. Make sure he doesn't see them as coming from you (like, hide it behind your back or something). Also, you could crate him or tie him up.

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there are "cages" that fit around the plastic tube feeders which allow small birds like sparrows, chickadees, finches, juncos, ect. to fly in and eat while keeping pesky large birds, cat, squirrels, other predators away. this might help a little

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You will either have to take the bird feeders down or keep your cat inside. As long as you put food out the birds will keep coming and the cat will keep killing them. You are just sentencing these birds to death. Cats are responsible for the death of millions of songbirds each year which has become a huge environmental problem...many organizations such as the Audobon Society and the Humane Society are starting campaigns for people to keep their cats indoors.

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Keep your cat inside!
House cats (domestic pets) are NOT a part of nature. They are alowed to roam free by irresponsible owners who refuse to believe that they ARE irresponsible, or that their pets could possibly be a factor in the diminishing number of birds.
Free-roaming domestic cats are one of the top predators of songbirds. See these websites for statistics:
http://www.owra.org/cateffect.htm...
http://wildlife.wisc.edu/extension/catfl...
http://www.abcbirds.org/cats/states/flor...
http://redcreekwildlifecenter.com/blog/?...
If you own a cat, it is your responsibility to provide for that cat's health, safety and welfare. Outdoor cats can fall victim to other animals, cars, poision, cruel humans, bad weather, illness and parasites. Outdoor cats have a fraction of the lifetime enjoyed by their indoor counterparts.
So, whether a cat owner does it for the love of the pet, or the love of wildlife, they should keep the cats indoors, where they belong. Only wild species should be kept in the wild. Domestic pets are not part of nature, and they belong indoors.

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Modify the behavior of your cat?
Your cat will continue killing birds as long as you keep letting it.
There is only one solution. Your cat is YOUR responsibility. You are responsible for every action, every damage, every killing that you allow by letting your cat roam.
Your roaming cat leaves toxic feces in your neighbors gardens, may you pray that none of them are pregnant women.
You say that you don't want to get rid of the cat, but you apparently don't care about it either. You don't care when you put at risk everyday, to the danger of cars, other animals, other people (your neighbors), disease and parasites.
Almost every day, I see questions here on Yahoo! from people who seek to eliminate their neighbors cats. These cats are using their gardens as litter boxes, and killing the birds that they feed. Many people recommend poisoning, shooting or using leg-traps.
In one area near me, cat owners were recently warned to keep their cats inside. They did not respect their neighbors, and continued to let their cats roam. Most of the cats were found - beheaded.
People are p*ssed. They shouldn't have deal with YOUR cat - EVER. Those of us who understand and respect nature, know that domesticated cats are not a part of nature. There is nothing natural about your cat killing birds.
I am a cat owner. My cats are allowed to go outside on occasion, while supervised. I love them, and respect my neighbors and the environment enough, to know that they are my responsibility.
You are responsible for your cat. If you cannot control it's behavior while outside, the only solution is to bring it indoors.
Even if you remove the feeders and birdbaths, you are not removing the danger - your cat. He will simply do it at your neighbors house. If I happen to be your neighbor - be aware - your cat will be brought to animal control. I'm tired of picking of your cat poop in my yard.
If you want a pet, be a responsible pet owner. Keep it indoors, or don't keep it at all.