CATS TO THE RESCUE!!

I've been "working" from home today so I've spent most of the time in front of the Computer with frequent trips into the garden for some fresh air. Anyway, this morning while in the Kitchen Jenny, one of my two cats, came in from the garden making loud miaows and wouldn't shut up while she kept going in and out of the Kitchen door. So obviously she was trying to tell me something and when I moved towards the door she shot off into the garden.
I followed with Jenny still miaowing and found a fledgling sparrow floundering around on the lawn with Sally, my other cat, sitting about 6' away watching it with a bored look on her face. It was completely unharmed and hadn't been touched by the cats but was at that stage of growth where it could almost fly. So I presume Jenny had decided she couldn't anything with it and came "shouting" to me!! Because the bird was in a bit of a panic I picked it up and placed it in one of my propagators [no plants in] and after putting in water and seed left it for a couple of hours. It's now safe and sound in the depths of the big thick old Pyracantha at the front of my house.
My cats seem to regard birds as part of the garden and not things to kill. I've even gone out into the garden and seen both cats fast asleep by the lawn Bird Bath with two Pigeons on the top having a drink and a Black Bird gobbling down the Sultanas that I leave by the base of it.

 

Hi Moyra, there are cats who don't seem to be bothered about birds etc. Having related that story it has occurred to me that, when Jenny's sitting with me in the Arbour and a bird lands on the nearby fence, she will stare at it and mutter to herself but that's all. I think Cats that don't kill birds are a rarity but it is nice not to worry about birds killed in the garden, although there is a local Hawk who makes a nice living around here.

 

Well, he doesn't do too well in my garden, Moyra, as most of my Bird Feeders are inside the depths of the trees and Lilac so he has'nt got any diving room, plus I think the Cats presence puts him off. He does have good fare in the neighbours gardens as they often complain and remark about his latest escapade. I love the heat, the more the merrier!!

 

That's true, Jiffy. I've long come to the realisation that you don't don't own a cat...they own you

 

Well, I don't know whether it's me being lazy, Clara Lou, but the cats have full bowls of food and water 24/7 so that they can come in and out from the garden during the day and eat and drink whenever they want. So possibly, like you say, having a nice dish of food available is nicer, and easier, than having to expend energy.

Jenny did come inside a few days ago with a Frog in her mouth. I don't think she'd seen one before and was just curious as to what it was!! It was completely unharmed and when I released it back into the garden it just hopped [without even a thank you] into the border. Jenny hasn't touched one since, maybe she doesn't like having a Frog in her Throat

 

I always cover my glass of wine or mug of tea when sitting under the tree just in case the birds decide to contribute to the taste.