"RobZip" wrote in message ...
"dgk" wrote in message
...
Ugh. I feel horrible. Sure, birds die all the time but I'm never going
to let the cats out again without making enough noise so that all the
birds get out first.


This is one of the things I encounter doing wildlife rehab.

Have you ever met any racoons with a heroin addiction in wildlife rehab?


James Marz

Born in lust, turn to dust.
Born in sin? come on in! - Stephen King

"James Marz" wrote in message
om...

Have you ever met any racoons with a heroin addiction in wildlife rehab?

You're just being absurd now. We all know that 'coons smoke crack...

"James Marz" wrote in message
om...

Have you ever met any racoons with a heroin addiction in wildlife rehab?

You're just being absurd now. We all know that 'coons smoke crack...

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 May 2004 00:38:53 GMT, "RobZip"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
Ugh. I feel horrible. Sure, birds die all the time but I'm never going
to let the cats out again without making enough noise so that all the
birds get out first.


This is one of the things I encounter doing wildlife rehab. A surprising
number of cat owners don't think their cat will hunt and kill when
outside
and doubt their ability to do so. Cats are very effective predators by
nature. The old sage advice among rehab people here is that even a well
fed,
mostly indoor cat will hunt and kill something at least every third time
it
is outside. Not to be laying any sort of accusatory trip on you but,
surprise - you got yourself a hunter there!


Yes, but it isn't a very big backyard. And they can't get out of it.
Weekdays I let them out when I get home after work and let them stay
out until it starts getting dark. The door is open so they can come in
whenever they feel like it.

When I let them out they rush out the door and usually skid to a halt
on the deck as the birds fly in all directions. I guess one flew a
little slower than normal.

Survival of the fittest. Something would have gotten that sparrow.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

"dgk" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 27 May 2004 00:38:53 GMT, "RobZip"
wrote:


"dgk" wrote in message
.. .
Ugh. I feel horrible. Sure, birds die all the time but I'm never going
to let the cats out again without making enough noise so that all the
birds get out first.


This is one of the things I encounter doing wildlife rehab. A surprising
number of cat owners don't think their cat will hunt and kill when
outside
and doubt their ability to do so. Cats are very effective predators by
nature. The old sage advice among rehab people here is that even a well
fed,
mostly indoor cat will hunt and kill something at least every third time
it
is outside. Not to be laying any sort of accusatory trip on you but,
surprise - you got yourself a hunter there!


Yes, but it isn't a very big backyard. And they can't get out of it.
Weekdays I let them out when I get home after work and let them stay
out until it starts getting dark. The door is open so they can come in
whenever they feel like it.

When I let them out they rush out the door and usually skid to a halt
on the deck as the birds fly in all directions. I guess one flew a
little slower than normal.

Survival of the fittest. Something would have gotten that sparrow.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

"RobZip" wrote in message
...

"Tracy" wrote in message
om...

I think the old sage advice is a little overdone.

Not overdone at all.

Come on, man, you cannot know that. You don't always have to be right, you
know. With cats as with most things, there is the "YMMV" factor.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

"RobZip" wrote in message
...

"Tracy" wrote in message
om...

I think the old sage advice is a little overdone.

Not overdone at all.

Come on, man, you cannot know that. You don't always have to be right, you
know. With cats as with most things, there is the "YMMV" factor.


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.688 / Virus Database: 449 - Release Date: 5/18/2004

"Mary" wrote in message
m...

Come on, man, you cannot know that. You don't always have to be right, you
know. With cats as with most things, there is the "YMMV" factor.

Mary, if you check my previous response you will see that I do indeed allow
that 'your mielage may vary'. It's not a matter of always being right for me
at all. Observations about the behavior of animals in any uncontrolled
setting are always steeped in elements of speculation, estimate and
conjecture in addition to what is factually known about the predator/hunter
instincts. What it comes down to is that nobody should be surprised when
their kitty comes in with a trophy - it's the nature of the beast.

"Mary" wrote in message
m...

Come on, man, you cannot know that. You don't always have to be right, you
know. With cats as with most things, there is the "YMMV" factor.

Mary, if you check my previous response you will see that I do indeed allow
that 'your mielage may vary'. It's not a matter of always being right for me
at all. Observations about the behavior of animals in any uncontrolled
setting are always steeped in elements of speculation, estimate and
conjecture in addition to what is factually known about the predator/hunter
instincts. What it comes down to is that nobody should be surprised when
their kitty comes in with a trophy - it's the nature of the beast.

At this time of the year it could have been a baby sparrow which are
easier to catch .
I hope Jackie gets better soon.
Alison

"dgk" wrote in message
...
I let the boys out into the backyard after getting home. A couple of
minutes later Nipsy comes running in with a bird in his mouth. A
little sparrow. I never thought he could actually catch one. It
wasn't
even dead when I saw that he had it but it wasn't going to be
getting
better. Then he finished it off.

Ugh. I feel horrible. Sure, birds die all the time but I'm never
going
to let the cats out again without making enough noise so that all
the
birds get out first.

Espy appears to be jealous.

-----------------------

Jackie (the new sick girl) is still too sick to be out much but she
seems to be putting on some weight. I can't feel quite EVERY bump in
her spine. The vet said that after another week or so we'll try for
some more blood for further testing.

I finally found out what he was talking about when he said that he
couldn't get blood out of her. I had some trouble getting her to eat
the antibiotic and tried to hold her while putting the dropper into
her mouth. Wow, did she put up a fight! Nothing was going down that
throat. A little while later she ate it all with her food.


Dave