A Cat and a Bird

You've met Sweetie the cat already. We also have two older cats, a female with a gimpy leg and an insatiable appetite, and a timid male who's easy-going, smart, and fond of beating up miniature fake mice and my purse. The few times we've had a real mouse in the house, he was faintly interested, but nothing like the two females we have. They knew what the mouse was and they knew what their kitty skills were for. But our boy cat really came through the other day, for us and - in a good way - for a bird.

In our family room is an airtight wood stove with a window in the front, used only if the power goes out in winter. On this particular day BoyCat suddenly started paying close attention to the front of the stove, patting it gently all over and craning his neck to see something inside. We've had birds enter via the chimney in the past, so I knew the drill: remove all cats from the room, close door, open exterior door, open screen door, open stove door, and retreat. As I opened the stove door, I had a vague impression of a dark, medium size bird, probably a starling, and a pointy orange beak about two inches long. And a beady eye looking right at me. I didn't hang around watching, just left the room and hoped the bird would understand what to do. He did. When I returned a few seconds later, he was gone without a trace.

I was so glad BoyCat alerted me to the trapped bird. A number of years ago, we found a dead bird in our cottage stove in the spring. The poor thing had entered through the chimney there as well, but was not lucky enough to have a cat, or people, living there at the time, as it was the off-season. I wept for that bird. It was so light and frail. I hope it had a quick death in the cold of winter. This recent event has made me remember that we need to look into covering both chimney openings with some kind of mesh.

Anyway ... here's the modest hero of the day, trying to avoid looking at the camera:

BoyCat. Yes, I named HIM too. Also known as Buddy.

This is his favourite perch when I am on the computer. If I try to ignore him, he just sits for awhile, then politely reaches over and taps my shoulder. If a series of taps doesn't change the situation for the better, he gives up on the subtle approach and jumps between me and the keyboard, walking back and forth with his floofy tail in my face until I offer him my lap. Only then is he happy.

BoyCat isn't fat, he's fluffy. Yes, we have two pudgy cats (you've met Sweetie already and will meet the other one tomorrow) and I admit right up front that they're pudgy, but this guy is ALL FLUFF. It's hard to keep indoor cats trim and svelte, unless they aren't all that interested in eating - and BoyCat really doesn't care much about food.