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#1
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I'm cross
Livid even.
Yes, I know cats catch wild birds and that's why I didn't want any cats, because I love birdwatching. Boyfriend lost his posh tapestry collar the other day, the one he arrived here with, so I bought him a reflective one yesterday with a bell on as he fancies himself as quite a hunter of birds, I hoped it would give them a chance. It's pitch black here now, 9.50 p.m. and what was he just doing? He was in the kitchen holding the body of a wren, still warm. http://www.birdsofbritain.co.uk/bird-guide/wren.htm Aargh .sob Yes, I *know* cats eat birds, I don't like it, and that's why I didn't want any. I've picked the wren up a couple of times to warm it to see if it will come back to life. It isn't going to. It's so small that if I put it on my palm with it's tail by my thumb, it's long insecting eating beak doesn't reach to the bottom of my little finger. Boyfriend has gone out again. If he is starting to search roosts for birds at night for fun, I shall keep him in from evening until morning. He isn't hungry. I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Tweed |
#2
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"Christine Burel" wrote in message ... I'm sorry, Christina (. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although I do have plans to eventually build a cat enclosure on my patio -- was supposed to be a project this summer but other issues took monetary precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? Christine I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all mine, I might add) whenever they want. It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I know there can be rules in various states about not letting cats roam but *really* it's recognised here that "cats have a propensity to roam" and we aren't expected to keep them in. They are almost above the law. If I were to look outside right now, I bet in a minute or two I would see a cat crossing the (quiet) road. So I had to go and look, didn't I? I think there could well have been one but there was a chap coming along the road toileting his dog. 1.40 a.m. Boyfriend went out again, perhaps a little upset that I didn't praise him for his wren. I didn't tell him off, but he could tell I wasn't thrilled. So he came in a bit later with a mousie. Just a small one, and wondered if that was okay. I said it was. Now I have two bodies to deal with in the morning. This bell on his new collar works well, doesn't it? sarcasm Tweed off to bed |
#3
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"Christine Burel" wrote in message ... I'm sorry, Christina (. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although I do have plans to eventually build a cat enclosure on my patio -- was supposed to be a project this summer but other issues took monetary precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? Christine I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all mine, I might add) whenever they want. It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I know there can be rules in various states about not letting cats roam but *really* it's recognised here that "cats have a propensity to roam" and we aren't expected to keep them in. They are almost above the law. If I were to look outside right now, I bet in a minute or two I would see a cat crossing the (quiet) road. So I had to go and look, didn't I? I think there could well have been one but there was a chap coming along the road toileting his dog. 1.40 a.m. Boyfriend went out again, perhaps a little upset that I didn't praise him for his wren. I didn't tell him off, but he could tell I wasn't thrilled. So he came in a bit later with a mousie. Just a small one, and wondered if that was okay. I said it was. Now I have two bodies to deal with in the morning. This bell on his new collar works well, doesn't it? sarcasm Tweed off to bed |
#4
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"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "Christine Burel" wrote in message ... I'm sorry, Christina (. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although I do have plans to eventually build a cat enclosure on my patio -- was supposed to be a project this summer but other issues took monetary precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? Christine I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all mine, I might add) whenever they want. It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I know there can be rules in various states about not letting cats roam but *really* it's recognised here that "cats have a propensity to roam" and we aren't expected to keep them in. They are almost above the law. If I were to look outside right now, I bet in a minute or two I would see a cat crossing the (quiet) road. So I had to go and look, didn't I? I think there could well have been one but there was a chap coming along the road toileting his dog. 1.40 a.m. Boyfriend went out again, perhaps a little upset that I didn't praise him for his wren. I didn't tell him off, but he could tell I wasn't thrilled. So he came in a bit later with a mousie. Just a small one, and wondered if that was okay. I said it was. Now I have two bodies to deal with in the morning. This bell on his new collar works well, doesn't it? sarcasm Tweed off to bed The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. Even a warm body brought in isn't necessarily his kill. Since things are not likely to change, there is really not a lot of point in keeping your cat in if he really wants OUT. Birds and cats have co-existed in the UK for a long time and one little cat isn't likely to change the balance of things. Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing them home for praise. Jo |
#5
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"Christina Websell" wrote in message ... "Christine Burel" wrote in message ... I'm sorry, Christina (. I do love the birds, too, and have many feeders out in my yard but it is easier for me 'cause mine don't go out (although I do have plans to eventually build a cat enclosure on my patio -- was supposed to be a project this summer but other issues took monetary precedence.) Would this idea be a possibility for you, too? Christine I don't think so. Not that I couldn't build a cat enclosure, I could, but I wouldn't feel happy about it as my two roam around in acres of land (not all mine, I might add) whenever they want. It seems like a different culture in America. I don't know anyone here in the UK that keeps their cats in 24/7, or takes them out on a harness. I know there can be rules in various states about not letting cats roam but *really* it's recognised here that "cats have a propensity to roam" and we aren't expected to keep them in. They are almost above the law. If I were to look outside right now, I bet in a minute or two I would see a cat crossing the (quiet) road. So I had to go and look, didn't I? I think there could well have been one but there was a chap coming along the road toileting his dog. 1.40 a.m. Boyfriend went out again, perhaps a little upset that I didn't praise him for his wren. I didn't tell him off, but he could tell I wasn't thrilled. So he came in a bit later with a mousie. Just a small one, and wondered if that was okay. I said it was. Now I have two bodies to deal with in the morning. This bell on his new collar works well, doesn't it? sarcasm Tweed off to bed The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. Even a warm body brought in isn't necessarily his kill. Since things are not likely to change, there is really not a lot of point in keeping your cat in if he really wants OUT. Birds and cats have co-existed in the UK for a long time and one little cat isn't likely to change the balance of things. Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing them home for praise. Jo |
#6
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On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell"
snip I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I've been feeding the birds much longer than the cats, and went almost stopped feeding the cats. Instead, I moved the feeders around until I found a spot where the cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but don't know who killed it. -- Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html |
#7
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On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell"
snip I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I've been feeding the birds much longer than the cats, and went almost stopped feeding the cats. Instead, I moved the feeders around until I found a spot where the cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but don't know who killed it. -- Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html |
#8
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"Steve Touchstone" wrote in message ... On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell" snip I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I've been feeding the birds much longer than the cats, and went almost stopped feeding the cats. Instead, I moved the feeders around until I found a spot where the cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but don't know who killed it. -- Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html Actually, feeding the birds also has attracted strays to my yard (i.e., Tucker, Robin, Pirate and others) but what has helped keep down the casualties is also what Steve has suggested here and I also started using more suet cakes so there aren't so many birds actually on the ground. What also attracted the strays to my yard (besides my "sucker" label) is that mice came around also for the birdseed; I've tried to be more careful to limit the seed on the ground. Christine |
#9
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"Steve Touchstone" wrote in message ... On Fri, 1 Oct 2004 22:07:15 +0100, "Christina Websell" snip I know it's in a cat's nature to hunt, but I set up my large garden a few years ago as a refuge for birds. :-( Ah, I know exactly what you mean. I've been feeding the birds much longer than the cats, and went almost stopped feeding the cats. Instead, I moved the feeders around until I found a spot where the cats couldn't ambush them. I only found one casuality this summer, but don't know who killed it. -- Steve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html Actually, feeding the birds also has attracted strays to my yard (i.e., Tucker, Robin, Pirate and others) but what has helped keep down the casualties is also what Steve has suggested here and I also started using more suet cakes so there aren't so many birds actually on the ground. What also attracted the strays to my yard (besides my "sucker" label) is that mice came around also for the birdseed; I've tried to be more careful to limit the seed on the ground. Christine |
#10
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Jo Firey wrote:
The difference in pet culture in the UK had slipped my mind. I'm sure there are lots of other folks cats out there hunting in addition to Boyfriend. Even a warm body brought in isn't necessarily his kill. Since things are not likely to change, there is really not a lot of point in keeping your cat in if he really wants OUT. Birds and cats have co-existed in the UK for a long time and one little cat isn't likely to change the balance of things. Bet he figures out you don't care for the birds and at least stops bringing them home for praise. Nikki has learned that it's not a good idea to bring home birds. I'm pretty sure she does kill some every summer on the island, though. She just eats them somewhere else. -- Marina, Frank and Nikki marina (dot) kurten (at) pp (dot) inet (dot) fi Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki |
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