Lately Smudge has been showing up at my front door with prey in various
stages of the dying process. I can always tell when she has something,
because she gives a distinctive type of cry. It's actually quieter than
her usual "let me in" cry, probably because her voice is muffled.

Last night I opened the door after hearing the "I've gotten us some take-
out!" sound. There's a screen door, so she can't run inside with it, but
I can see out. There was nothing in her mouth, but I was still suspicious,
so I looked down - and yep, there was a dead mouse on the mat.

My first reaction, which is pretty much always my reaction when she does
this, was to go, "Ewww, Smudge, no way, you are not coming inside with
that!" Then I thought, just because I'm not allowing her to bring the prize
indoors, that doesn't mean I can't praise her. So I started saying, "Good
girl, Smudge! Good job!" (OK, so I'm giving her a few mixed messages. )

The minute she heard me praise her, she started tossing the mouse up in
the air - you know how they do that? She did that a couple of times, and
then settled in and began chomping. At that point I discreetly closed the
door.

When I opened it later, there was absolutely nothing left. Unlike with
birds, where she leaves a pile of feathers, she apparently eats the entire
mouse.

--
Joyce ^..^

(To email me, remove the X's from my user name.)