We’ve fallen out, the cat and I,
For gratitude’s illusion
Has been destroyed and left no doubt
That it was mere delusion.
*
I gave the benefit of doubt,
Accepting there was reason
For cats to bring their keepers gifts
…But now it’s hunting season.
*
The rat, that I could understand,
Instinct exterminating.
(Though hiding it behind the couch
Is something worth debating…)
*
The baby fieldmouse, still alive…
Or maybe just a vole,
With careful panic from my son
Was caught, released, still whole.
*
The blue-tit was a tragedy,
Pale yellow feathers flew.
The baby starling, minus head,
Appeared out of the blue.
*
The robin was the final straw,
Just laid there on the floor,
But newly fledged, its heart exposed,
His voice would sing no more.
*
So we had words, the cat and I,
I made my feelings plain
And told the homicidal cat
She’d much to lose or gain.
*
As I’m the one who fills her bowl
And see’s she’s warm and fed
The gifts she thinks of leaving me
Had better not be dead.
*
The small dog, on the other hand,
When birds fall from the nest,
Will sing and whine until I come
To do for them my best.
*
It’s not that I don’t care for cats,
Though dogs are in my heart,
They only bring me tennis balls
And not lives ripped apart.
*
I went off cats a while ago,
When one brought half a mouse
And dropped it in the bath with me,
The rotten little louse.
*
We’ve blue-tits nesting in the box,
Set safely way up high,
I watch the busy parents work
As back and forth they fly.
*
I really thought they would be safe,
No climbing perch nor pew
To let the feline get too close
… And yet their nest’s askew.
*
I know that it’s instinctive,
And I know that cats give chase,
But finding tattered babies
Takes the smile right off my face.
*
So if she wants to carry on
With all the needless killing,
I’ll introduce her to the dog…
I’m sure the dog is willing!
*
-
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All books available in Paperback and for Kindle from Amazon. Click the images to find out more...With Stuart France
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Hmmm, I can empathize with you, have you thought of just keeping her inside. I have 5 cats and only one is a hunter however she brings me live things which I only have to catch and return to the wild. Today it was a small rabbit. we checked it for injury then placed it with the rabbits next door so it will be okay.
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As she is a stray who adopted Nick, I’m not sure we could do that. She comes and goes as she pleases…but she is definitely a hunter.
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Yes most stray are because that is how they live until they adopt someone. That is the same with my cat that hunts. she was a stray that adopted me. Her kittens have never know the need to hunt so they do not.
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It takes very little for instinct to take the reins, does it?
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Indeed, especially since that is key to survival. I try not to be to hard on her when she does that. But there are times…
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Thankfully, she is not my cat…I just get to look after her and clean up after her…
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We live near a bird sanctuary, Sue, which has the unfortunate side effect that during the winter we get visitors in the shape of rats. We acquired two cats recently and I must say that on the two recent occasions when I have seen a rat sliding at speed across my kitchen floor, bringing the kitties in seems to have solved the problem [although no bodies have been found – I think it is the smell of the cats]. So the cats have some saving graces but I do agree that birds are an absolute no no!
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Nick lives in a little green oasis in the town… there are always rats in such placs and they like the space under his decking. But The birds are a problem.
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Oh dear!
I am glad Sonu Singh is an indoor cat!!! Not sure I could cope with that!
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I like cats…but not this aspect of them.
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No, I get that,… mine is currently watching me from behind me… I feel I can’t write anything negative lol!!!
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Ah…y es, they are good at making us feel watched…
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He’s now turned around and ‘watching’ Lil Princess, phew!
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Heh… Nick’s cat will be waiting when I get there, looking all innocent. My first job will be to check for corpses and make sure the nest box is safe. Somehow, even under the eaves of the bungalow, it has been knocked hard enough to leave it at a precarious angle. So far though, the babies are okay.
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Hope they stay safe Sue!!!
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So do I. x
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Once they develop opposable thumbs …
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Time to worry!!!
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Og dear no…they are caleer enough as it is…
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Reblogged this on Anita Dawes & Jaye Marie.
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Thanks Jaye x
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Cats are savage little beasts. Anyone who doesn’t think so is fooling themselves. (or hasn’t been the recipient of their murderous habit!)
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They are…And wholly independent too .
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The cats around here seem to kill mostly mice (although killing the rats would be better) It’s no fun to find a dead bird. Still, people poisoning and destroying the environment kill far more birds than cats ever will. (K)
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I agree, but when you feed the birds, watch their babies leave the nest…and then find them, it does get to you.
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Yes it does.
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I once read a book by a man who trained his cat not to kill birds so it can be done. I think, though, it has to be before the instinct has kicked in and the cat has killed. I remember getting my dad to crawl under the bed to rescue a bird – while the cat looked on in utter disgust.
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Nick’s cat is not a youngster…and we have no idea what her life was before she ecided to take up residence.
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I am more of a doggy person. Some cats really look lovely and are so cute but I couldn’t have one as I don’t like their ‘presents’ much!
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This one is Nick’s cat…the one that adopted him a while ago. I’m a dog person too, though I do like cats.
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Have you tried putting a bell on her? It’s supposed to help. Of course, not that easy to keep the bell on the cat, either … but that’s another episode.
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Tried that straight away… she managed to lose every bell.
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What a shame. She was no doubt used to providing for herself as a stray. 😦 — Suzanne
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She was certainly a well-fed stray.
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Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
FOUL FURTIVE FELINE?
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