Foul feline

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!
*

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
This entry was posted in Photography, Poetry and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

35 Responses to Foul feline

  1. 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.

    Like

  2. 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!

    Like

    • Sue Vincent says:

      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.

      Like

  3. Ritu says:

    Oh dear!
    I am glad Sonu Singh is an indoor cat!!! Not sure I could cope with that!

    Like

  4. jenanita01 says:

    Cats are savage little beasts. Anyone who doesn’t think so is fooling themselves. (or hasn’t been the recipient of their murderous habit!)

    Like

  5. memadtwo says:

    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)

    Like

  6. Mary Smith says:

    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.

    Like

  7. 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!

    Like

  8. 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.

    Like

  9. What a shame. She was no doubt used to providing for herself as a stray. 😦 — Suzanne

    Like

  10. Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
    FOUL FURTIVE FELINE?

    Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.