I bought a water gun to squirt the cats with to teach them to leave the bird cages alone. I don't have to use often and have never hit one of the birds with it. Kookooloo will see me reach for it and if she is on top of the cage will make a quick exit from the top to go into the cage.
Indeed we do, Wolf! What would life be without our little toys and that inner child in all of us? And, actually, thinking about it, a water gun is more practical than a spray bottle because the stream is narrower, farther reaching and more accurate so you definitely came up with the better tool.