LAZ: I caught a birdie a few days ago! I was SO thrilled. I never caught one before. I was innocently sitting under the birdfeeder and it just landed right in front of me. Well, what's a kittie ta do? I grabbed it.
TBT here: Laz caught his first bird. I wish it hadn't been a goldfinch; we have invasive sparrows I would miss less. And he caught another goldfinch the following day. Now he just sits under the feeder waiting for another. He has a lethal streak. I wish I could orient him to voles, and maybe with the warmer weather he will start to find them. We have too many voles here.
I'm of 2 minds about this. Regarding the birds, nature favors the very slightly smarter ones. Laz has probably caught 2 of the careless/dumber ones. I've noticed the remaining ones (and there are many in my organic semi-wild yard) are quicker to leave when they see Laz. I help by clapping my hands sharply when Laz goes out (which makes them scatter and stay alert). And he never caught one before now after months of getting outside.
The birds likely became careless (or new ones inexperienced) last year. Marley can't jump like he used to, and Ayla seldom goes beyond the deck stairs these days on the rare occasions she steps out at all.
Laz started going outside late last Summer. And in the months between, he not only never grabbed a bird, he seemed uninterested. So when he caught one I was surprised. And I expected it was a one-off.
When he caught a 2nd, I realized he had a new hobby that I did not desire. I laid down cut brambles around the ground around the feeder. That didn't bother the birds at all but at least it kept him a few feet further away. He hasn't caught one since that I know of.
Laz is very agressive and has a lethal streak. More about that tomorrow.
Laz does seem to have an unfortunate bird-catching talent.
ReplyDeleteYou were just following instinct, Laz.
ReplyDeleteEric was the bird catcher here and never really interested in mice unless it was pinkies in a nest. If he caught one he would clamp his jaws tight and refuse to give it up. From being a big softie with everything being too much trouble, he would turn into a fierce killer.
Laz, you do get pawsome noms from TBT.
ReplyDeleteMaybe let the birds do their thing.
I do know they are fun to chase though and it is a cat thing.
You never know if they have cooties or something though :/
Purrs, Julie
Oh, wow, Laz! Catch the cowbirds or starlings, they are bigger and you might get more praise from TBT.
ReplyDeleteThe birds and other ground critters here know the sounds of the doggy doors and they all vamoose at the slightest rattling of those doors, let alone the collar tags!