As I rinsed off the dishes, I saw something through the glass— it was a little bird with a red belly who had just landed on the bird feeder. My cat, which is always on the windowsill, completely froze. With a window bird feeder, both you and your cat can get a front row experience to the bird action and it’ll bring some life and scenery into your home.

When it comes to feeder placement, make sure to put some by the window for optimal bird viewing, but make sure the birds can’t be touched by your cat. You will find that there are a number of different styles and types of window cat feeders, so you can pick the one that best fits your view.

1) Window-mounted suction-cup platform feeder (Droll Yankees Suction Cup Feeder)

I love when the little chickadees land and peck seeds into the tan plastic plate I put on my window using suction cups and it catches the sunlight. So far, the feeder has never slid even on windy days or when a daring birds decide to land on it.

My feeder tray attracts the birds best when I use either mixed seeds or sunflower chips, and the birds eat while my cat watches them from just a few inches away. The view through the window is even better when the birds do their little showman routine with their heads, feet, and bill turns.

Some suction cups do not stick to dirty or rough glass, so I do make sure to clean the window. Otherwise, both my cat and I can safely enjoy hours of bird watching.

2) Tray-style stick-on window feeder (Perky-Pet Window Bird Feeder)

I notice that when the chickadees land on the clear plastic tray, there are only a handful of sunflower hearts. I know the tray has three strong suction cups, and I trust those more than the one cheap model. However, I still find myself pushing it down every day.

The tray is able to hold about one cup of sunflower chip seeds, safflower or any mixed seeds that have no dust. Birds are brave enough to sit on the edge of the tray, so my cat is now able to watch the birds while she sits by the window.

The living birds are so colorful and freely fluttering that when I sit in the living room, I feel as though I can reach out to grab them. However, I may not be able to see them on more humid mornings because the plastic may get covered in condensation.

3) Clear acrylic hummingbird feeder with perch (Aspects HummZinger Window)

When the first hummingbirds show up, they start to hover around like little helicopters. I feel like I need to push down on the suction cups more for the birds to be able to hover around them freely.

This small reservoir only holds a few ounces of nectar, so you will need to refill it frequently. It also works best with plain sugar water and not any seed mix. Finally, the small perch gives birds a short resting spot in between sips.

Having to refill it twice a day is a bit of work, especially on hot days when its small capacity is even more annoying.

4) Seed-and-suet half-dome window feeder (Nature’s Hangout Window Bird Feeder)

One or two chickadees come out first, like an oven, out of the birdfeeder. After a brief pause to get another clear view of the bird feeders, I see one chickadee land on the window.

Sparrows, finches, and titmice will gather around a mixture of seeds and small cake suet. Your cat will stay in this exact spot forever, and the suet will be right at your cat’s eye level.

Although the clear dome is good for a close viewing experience, it can fog up during heavy rain and block your view of the birds. The birds would, if they meant to, suet smear the window that they peck at.

5) Window-mounted shell feeder for cardinals (Audubon Suet & Seed Window Feeder)

I see cardinals and the bright red feeder. I hope I can touch these cups to make sure they won’t sag under the weight of the wind.

It has space for a few days of feeding and includes a seed and suet mix made for cardinals and larger songbirds. This also means my cat can watch the birds at eye level and see every wing beat and crest flick.

I know my cat can watch the birds but the birds will never be able to sneak into the house. One issue may be that the bird perch is short, so it is possible that smaller birds will not be able to sit on it. This means that you probably won’t see any of the chickadees or nuthatch birds.

6) Mesh window feeder for nuthatches and chickadees (Eco-Worthy Mesh Window Feeder)

The little nuthatch can be heard by me through the green mesh. The mesh is very fine and springy. It is held by strong suction cups on the glass and they feel secure when I touch the glass.

The feeder was made to be used by small birds. Sunflower chips and peanut fragments fill the bottom of the mesh. It is meant for small birds, so seeds that clump together are not a problem. Chickadees and nuthatches jump on and off the mesh and work it with rapid movements.

My favorite view is from the inside! The birds come so close to me and I can see them easily. My cat is working himself up to escape. The glass keeps him safe. The only problem is that because the glowing mesh tends to sag with a lot of birds, I have to check the cups or refill it more often.

7) Window-mounted tray with cat-proof shield (Songbird Essentials Window Seat with Guard)

The first thing I hear is the soft thud of some sparrows that just landed on the transparent trap that glitters in the sun. It has a few suction cups to hold it in place and I never worry about it blowing away on windy days.

The bird feeder tray has a few cups of seed mixed with safflower, just enough to pull in the finches and sparrows. This saves me the trouble of having to refill it all the time. I can sit in my kitchen chair and the birds are basically in elbow range. This also keeps my cat glued to the window as the birds are separated from him by the feeder shield.

The guard helps me see everything and prevents my cat from getting to it. There are some downsides. Mainly, larger and heavier birds tend to monopolize the tray and make the food cups drop. So it is better for smaller species in your yard.

Why Birds Keep Coming Back

I can see a small bird and hear it chatters and hops into the bird feeder attached to my window. The small bird seems a little confident to hop into the feeder as the bird feeder is mounted flat so the birds feel safe to visit often.

The feeder should last a few days since I chose black oil sunflowers and small seed mixes. The large seeds will attract cardinals and jays, and finches will sift through and grab the small seeds.

The window views of the shows with birds look like they are at a tiny theater. Also, because the glass is clear, it shows depth and motion to the bird show. The perch placement means the birds are close enough to the window so they won’t smack the glass.

Rain could cause the seeds to clump together since it pools in the tray and will need to be tilted to drain properly. However, on the day that the food is tossed out, the birds visit the trays more frequently.

Setting Up a Feather-Friendly Window View

I see birds at the different feeders. Each one takes a different kind of risk. A sparrow lands with a gentle clap, while a cardinal makes a loud jump. I change the placements and adjust the feeders with the changing seasons to keep some drama (and safety, as well as a clean space) for my cat and me.

Safe Placement and Cleanliness

To make it so my cat can’t jump to the window and to keep the birds safe, I try to set the bird feeders at 4 to 6 feet. For securing the feeders, I use strong suction cups paired with a metal bracket. The brackets stop twisting if a heavy bird lands on the feeder, and the suction cups help hold them in place.

I pick feeders that have plenty of room on the perches to avoid crowding by the goldfinches and doves. I do a thorough cleaning every week to every other week using a bleach solution, then rinsing and letting it dry completely before putting it back up. I take down wet seed holders daily due to rain (this also prevents bugs). Old wet seed hulls and old seeds mold and disease quickly, which is why I remove old hulls daily.

I put a thin blind to obstruct the cat’s direct line of sight to the window so the cat does not go crazy trying to get at the birds. This should keep any birds safe from the cat’s wild swing.

Seasonal Adjustments

In winter I switch my window feeders to nyjer and sunflower heart seeds since they are smaller and fit the seed ports better plus they won’t freeze. I also throw a layer of shell grit in the ground feeders. I do my best to keep the feeders full because the birds need to burn off their winter calories to stay warm so I help out.

For spring and summer birding, I raise the feeder height so fledgling birds can fly around underneath the glass. I also do a seed mix that has more millet and cracked corn to draw in the pesky grackles and jays. In the summer heat, I’m always checking the glass because the heat loosens the suction and I like to keep the view clear after storms so I adjust the mounting brackets.