The downside of owning cats !!

[Martin Milner]

But what they do eat is the birds they catch and today they caught one wren (the smallest bird in europe)

The Goldcrest is smaller.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdgui ... /index.asp

We have a good population of Goldcrests in our local park, 5 minutes walk from my house, but they only really like conifers, so we don't see them in our garden. I usually hear them before I see them, and then stand still and watch closely to see these beautifully coloured but shy birds hopping from branch to branch.

We do get Blue Tits, Great Tits, Longtail Tits (very occasionally) and Wrens, all of which use our apple tree for cover and foraging.

And for those that remember, once we had ducks.

[Joseph E. Smith]

What about the fuzzy vommmmit?

[CHasR]

SO many cats,
SO few recipies.

cat: the other white meat

Have you ever eaten cat?

let's keep it clean...this is a PG-17 site!!!!

[Cayden]

Have you ever eaten cat?

I know people who ate them during the winter of 1944. Said it was pretty good, tasted like rabbit, hence the nickname 'roof rabbit' that was widely used at that time and place.

[djm]

If you've ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant, chances are you've already had cat.

djm

[kkrell]

If you've ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant, chances are you've already had cat.

djm

Thus the Strawbs lyrics for "Back in the Old Routine"

"I drop in at the local for a pint and a chat
End up at the takeaway for Siamese cat"

[Redwolf]

If you've ever eaten at a Chinese restaurant, chances are you've already had cat.

djm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOY1Okg0RV4

Not for delicate sensibilities.



Redwolf

[djm]

An oldie but a goodie.

djm

[tansy]

I can see no downside except the loss felt when a dear one dies. Mine is curled up on my pipe bag down below on the old boat as I type. She is always trying to jump the big heron that lands on the stern rail early in the morning. She's 'bout the finest company I know.

and JOSEPH E, WHAT ABOUT THAT FUZZY VOMIT!
Might could write an uilleann rap tune starting with that line.

[mvhplank]

Got three cats at the moment. Two are downstairs and one is banished to the upstairs since she bloodied the ear of the smallest of the older littermates.

Useless as mousers, though. Generally they just demoralize the mouse until it's huddled up under the toilet (neither bathroom having a mouse-sized escape route).

The new hero in my life is a rat terrier, and aptly named he is! He's killed two mice in the house and would love to get his chops on the chipmunks who taunt him on our walk.

[buddhu]

What about the fuzzy vommmmit?

I've got three kids and three grandkids. I've had dogs and cats all my life. I drink quite a lot. Ergo, there aren't many kinds of vomit to which I am still particularly sensitive.

[lalit]

The Cat Bib:

http://www.catgoods.com/

Killer cats could wear it by day, when the birds are out, and frolic sans bib by night, so as to have a go at the rats.

[Cynth]

Thanks for that link. I had no idea there was something that might help with birds. The bibs look pretty bad---they sort of destroy the dignity of the animal---but I am disturbed by bird-killing and my bells don't work. I just had to chase off a couple of cardinals who were being stalked by one of my kitties the other day. I might just give those a try. My cats would certainly be the first in their neighborhood to be wearing such fashionable attire .

[lalit]

We bought one of these for our cat, but haven't tried it yet. For now, she has to live indoors full time. She's a former stray, high flight risk, and we live near a very busy street.

The advantage of the bibs, as far as I can tell, is that the cats can still carry on with their normal behavior, but the catching & killing is thwarted at the last minute.

And when you're laughing at your cats for their new fashions, just remember all the goofy apparel people subject their dogs to!

[Cynth]

Yes, the article makes it sound as though the bibs don't inhibit anything other than the final pounce. I am a little worried about the bib keeping their collars from "breaking away" if they get caught on a branch, but I'm sure I can put the bib on so that the collar works properly. It sounds as though they could still climb, which is important in case they have to get away from a dog. They aren't very expensive, either.

I can certainly see why your cat can't go outside. Mine go out and I whistle for them every couple of hours and go looking if they don't come. Not completely safe, but so far no big problems other than bird catching. We don't have a lot of traffic, but all it takes is one car. They do kill mice and baby rabbits which is sad but good because there are no other predators. I guess if we noticed too many mice coming in we could take the bibs off for awhile.

There really is quite a movement among bird-lovers to keep cats indoors. I understand their concern and share it because I love birds as well. If cat owners can take the responsibility upon themselves to do something about the problem, then there is less likely to be a serious backlash against cats. There was a proposed leash law for cats in our town which did not pass, but many people are seriously unhappy with bird-catching behavior. When you consider the number of cats outdoors, two or three birds a month (about what my cats catch) adds up to many, many songbirds.

I'll have to show my cats a picture of what they could be wearing .