Predator Extraordinaire

WhenWeAreQueen ^ | July 29, 2008 | pharmamom

[pharmamom]

I think Tiger may be the fastest cat on earth, at least of the domestic variety. The unhappily confined feline has made two jail-breaks in the past three days. Neither outing lasted more than 20 minutes (still, clearly enough time to go applaud in Mr. Lee’s frowel bed), but both yielded rather astonishing treasures. At least Tiger saw them as valuable, and he is the Go-To guy for yardpolice duty. Left eviscerated on the back deck on Sunday afternoon was a bullfrog. The slain amphibian must have had dementia and gone missing from home, because we live nowhere near water. There is a storm culvert on the main access street leading into our neighborhood, complete with a resident frog, but not a bullfrog—and Mr. Frog was still there on his algae-covered stones as I ran by late this afternoon.

More problematic was last night’s prisoner. We should know by now that when Tiger comes into the house bearing gifts, they are usually still alive and kicking. Or in this one’s case, flying. We chased Tiger under the kitchen desk, where he let go of the bird, a young female cardinal. The unlucky flyer didn’t get all the way across the kitchen before our not-velocity-impaired feline had recaptured it, mid-flight. All of this occurred against a background of wails from Max, woofs from Henry, admonishments from Tobie and a silent-but-alarmed glare from Horus. I did finally corner feather and fang and get the former out the door, ruffled and affronted, but apparently unharmed. Tiger gave me a look of approach—“Get your own bird!”

[pharmamom]

I found a website that says Egyptian Maus are among the fastest domestic cats. I think Horus could do 0-5 mph in a couple of minutes, if pressed.

[Pontiac]

Tiger gave me a look of approach—“Get your own bird!”

I believe the author meant “reproach”.

[Bigg Red]

It is a shame that some people still let their cats out to ravage the wildlife population.

I must admit to having been clueless also some years ago, but the cat I have now is an indoor cat and it not allowed outside except on a tether.

[crazyhorse691]

My wife never believed me that domestic cats were the most dangerous predator around until an elderly neighbor passed away and the 35+ cats that he fed daily scattered throughout the neighborhood...it's been years since I have encountered snakes, tree frogs,and ground nesting birds around here.

[Lurker]

I think the person who is allowing this animal to roam freely outdoors should be charged criminally.

It's illegal to kill songbird species such as Cardinals.

And if I see his stupid cat on my property killing the birds I've spent hundreds of dollars trying to attract it'll end up at the pound the first time, and buried in my backyard the second.

L

[Scythian]

I posted on another thread that the domestic cat is in the largest single factor of extinction of species on the planet, I was nothing but mocked of course, however, it is true in spades. Mock on.

[weldAllday]

3 golden rules for this type of problem. shoot, shovel, shut-up. I`ve been telling ppl for years how the common house cat is the biggest predator around

[TNdandelion]

I certainly appreciate your efforts. My neighbor’s cat is always killing critters in my little sanctuary. Lizards, birds, rabbits, etc.

[ErnBatavia]

No mocking, but there are three (of what I’d assume to be)housecats that roam our desert ‘hood at night....I’ve watched them do all the acrobatics around the quail and squirrels in the back yard, and would attest in court that these guys are true “pussies”.....they haven’t got a clue as to how to hunt. These cats come nowhere close, nor do they really act much beyond the instinctual thing to head home for their Purina Cat Chow.

[pharmamom]

Aah! You’re right, I meant a look of reproach. And all of you cat-killers out there—if you had bothered to read the source blog, you’d have seen that we are doing out best to keep Tiger inside. We have three boys and a large dog, all of whom go in and out many times a day. In the past three weeks, Tiger has gotten out twice. I would say we are doing a pretty good job of keeping him up. And when you live in a neighborhood with many small children and neighbors who all know each other (except the usually house-bound Mr. Lee), you don’t go around killing each others’ pets. We have neighbors’ dogs stray into our yard occasionally and relieve themselves, but we don’t make a fuss. That’s what happens when you live in suburbia.

And you all missed the fact that the bird lived to sing another day.