I have an eleven y/o (thank god as the madness is finally going to end) cat who is prob the greatest mouser ever. He could certainly compete in the mouser olympics.
Anyhow he has killed and brought into the house over the last 11 years about 500 rodents of all kinds and prob 150 birds. Another of equal numbers killed that he doesnt bring in. This benefits the neighborhood and area however sometimes he gets hold of other stuff too. Most birds he doesnt kill so usually I can free them from the house.
Last night I walk into the bedroom ready for bed and WHOA there is a maimed pigeon with a broken wing, a few feathers ruffled. Where is the cat. Outside lounging on an outdoor chair. I guess he fig he would let this pigeon go. This is a big chunky country pigeon. never heard a thing. Most small critters are screaming when he brings them in.
So I put it outside and hide it under a tree for now. Im tired! Well 3 hours later, flopping pigeon on the floor. Cat found it brought it back in. I put it under another further huge pine tree. Back to bed. Annoyed as fuck!
This afternoon I check on it and the thing is flopping in the sun. I think oh man. Now what.
Well only two choices. Kill it or give it a lift. Cant leave it flop in the sun. Well folks the old cat is a big softie so yes off to the woods we go.
I cut two spring water bottles in half for water containers and went to this little store to see if they have any bird seed. Well as you can see, being my day, of course they did not. So I bought a bag of corn chips (corn, oil, salt) and a walnut cliff bar
and set him up in some tall grass. Went back tonight and he is doing fine. Brought him some crackers.
So I'll stop by every other day and the pigeon "should" be fine but we'll see. lots of critters out roaming. I put him alongside a huge dirt field and a road on the other side, so maybe not too many critters. He is lucky it is July and not Oct. He has a broken wing. Otherwise is in good shape.
What are you going to do.
Around here most cats have free reign so that is how it goes.
Earlier this year I gave two baby bunnies a lift two diff times. I didnt "set them up" tho. Just saved them from sure slaughter. Came home a month back and smelled something real bad when I opened the house door. One of the worst crime scenes ever with a baby bunny.
Thank god for vinegar. It is all that works.
Oh and this cat has been sprayed by skunks THREE times. 2004, 06, 08, god please not this year. That is a nightmare story.
I seen him get it the first time as we both walk out at 4am and there is a skunk 30 ft away. He spots it and immediately goes over to impose on it. Skunk walks away and I lose sight. 5 mins later cat comes back.
When he came in the house, I have a cat door, the whole house immediately wreaked. I had no experience and panicked big time. All my clothes ect. Now days after 3 times I am the skunk expert around this board.
Still I HOPE it doesnt happen again as it is a MAJOR pain in the ass.
Second time in 2006 was right outside my door. Oh that was fun for the neighbors and neighborhood Im sure. 3rd time in 2008 he just got grazed, still bad tho.
Tomato juice, doesnt do crap. Vinegar over a month is your only hope. The cat will stink for 6 months no matter what.
My cat was here whining just now and I yelled at him. God that whining is so annoying.
Anyhow I am sick of all the bloodshed. But, no I wont keep him inside. As I don't feel that is right either unless that is all you have than it is ok. I lived with a cat in an apt for 8 years but if you have the outdoors the cat should be free I feel. But there is a price to pay.
Anyone else ever do a rescue? With 60,000,000 feral cats in the US I know a lot of pigeons were killed today by cats but I just didnt have the heart to watch this pigeon die.
So it goes. Now I have to care for a pigeon.