At the same time we adopted Athena, (back in late July - and I can't believe she's been with us almost 2 months), Jeff also wanted a bird feeder for the back yard. Our forest of pines and oaks and other foliage are fraught with a plethora of birds - and the inevitable, annoying squirrels. He said the feeder was simply for the birds. But, I knew it was first and foremost for Athena. While not an outside cat, Athena does have access to a large window overlooking the backyard and all the flurry of traveling figures, squirrels and birds mostly. But, the feeder was also for us, as well. He - and I as I have come to find out - enjoys watching the birds.
Originally Jeff had the bird feeder hung on the what was supposed to be for a porch swing beamed rack, but when the feed began to disappear rapidly, we spied the rat-tailed squirrels were having their fill and the birds were staying far away.
Then, he hung the feeder on a thin pole assuming the squirrels could not make it up the skinny pole. We all know what happens when we assume, don't we? Those dang squirrels made an a** out of u and me. Brilliantly, Jeff picked up a square metal board, cut it on one side to the middle and coned it around the pole and adhered it. Voila! Thus, solved that pesky squirrel problem. Of course, he had to make it ugly because he just couldn't leave well enough alone when he spray painted it black he then had to go and spray paint it camouflage.