Here's a picture of the evidence (with dead chipmunk removed).
Sunday, May 20, 2007
I have created a monster.
I've noticed a sharp upturn in the amount of hunting that Zima is doing lately. After not bringing home any catches all winter, she's leaving an awful lot of small critters at the doorstep for us. A week ago it was a small rabbit, yesterday it was a chipmunk, and today she left a half-chewed chipmunk with a leg missing. But something about today's offering gave me a hint as to what may be responsible for her recent killing spree. Remember that catnip I planted for her amusement? Well, right next to the dead chipmunk was a sprig of that catnip plant. It appears that the cat is getting all hopped up on the 'nip and then chasing down some wildlife. I'm not sure if I should feel guilty about this or not. Maybe she is just killing more right now because this is the time when there are more young animals that aren't as savvy about predators as their parents. Or maybe it is an unintended consequence of the 'feline opium den' I planted. Looking at the bright side... she's an old cat, and at least she is getting some exercise (and supplementing her diet).
Here's a picture of the evidence (with dead chipmunk removed).
Here's a picture of the evidence (with dead chipmunk removed).
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15 comments:
Next time leave the chipmunk. I'm curious to see just how far Zima has gone to the Dark side.
I once had a cat that left me offerings. I know they usually do this as a gift of sorts. I was just getting sick of having a dead bird or some other unrecognizable critter in my bed. I would leave for work about 5am and one of my housemates would let the cat in later. Obviously they were half asleep when doing so. I would then come home and find these "offerings" in my bed. It was gross. But she must have thought that was the "safe place" because later she had a litter of kittens on my pillow.
Yeah, what Wa11z said.
You don't see me leaving out the good stuff when I post pictures, do you? ;)
bc - Most of the time she doesn't get to bring them in the house. I'm really glad she doesn't leave dead animals in my bed!
wa11z and ll - oh, come on. Use your imagination. She ate one of its hind legs and pulled out an organ or two. It wasn't all that spectacular. I've seen much worse. My old cat Dixie (RIP) used to eat all of the critter except the head, which she'd leave on the sidewalk or doorstep nose pointing up toward the sky. Sometimes she'd also leave the stomach next to the head. That cat was an artist.
I think you're probably right about the fact that there are so many small baby critters out there right now. A lot of it is probably just opportunity. Like you said, she's an old cat. Once the babies have grown some, I'll bet she won't be able to run so many of them down.
Oh my gosh, that is so hysterical! Poor Zima. She's like Jeckyll and Hyde from your masterful plant. =)
Also, I've been reading about the wood-boring insects. Apparently, deep holes are for larvae. Surface boring is for making paper nests.
If you have an actual hole, you spray with a bit of ammonia, let dry, and fill with wood putty. Then spray the rest of your chair with an ammonia/water solution. About 50/50. When it dries, you won't be able to smell it, but I guess the insects don't like it. Ammonia's cheap, so it might be worth a shot.
thewritegirl - I hope you're right, otherwise it is going to be a long, gruesome summer!
beth - yes, my chair has a deep hole. PDM sprayed some bug killer in there a week or two ago. Not sure that wood putty will help - the hole is on the bottom where it doesn't show and putty won't help with structural integrity. I may have to replace that slat.
Oh, the hole part/puddy thing was to stop the larvae process, I think. Replacing it would of course, be better. Nasty bugs. LOL
chipmunks are good singers, i've heard.
beth - except the replacement slat wouldn't be that pretty weathered gray color that the rest of the chair has reached. :-(
brooklyn frank - Welcome. And you're right. :-)
My stray kitties leave animal bones in their water dish. They can't afford to not eat their prey, but I like to think they leave the bones for me. Maybe they're expecting me to make soup for them. Or something.
magnetbabe - aww, those kitties are sweet.
Sorry, deleted comment is mine. I should proofread before I hit Send.
I thank you for removing the poor little chipmunk. And I'm also thankful that my cats are indoor cats, so I don't have to deal with their gifts of love.
kat - yes, dead animals are one of the less than charming things about cat ownership (and reading LL's blog).
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