 sj |
||
|
||
Cat hunting
|
|
|
Subject: Cat hunting From: Penny S. Date: 21 May 99 - 06:59 PM Back in the thirties, in the depression, when teachers and university graduates worked in the road gangs, and my grandad was trying to make a living from a small Sussex farm, food was short, and my Nana could not think what to cook for lunch. She looked across the kitchen towards the cat, and said, for want of anyone else to say it to, "I don't know what we are going to eat." The cat went out, to return shortly with a (Ooops, mustn't say that) piece of live mutton of the underground variety. Must be the only time a cat's offering has been appreciated in this family. My mother always said that Puss in Boots must have been based on a cat like that. I now can't check whether this was repeated. Not a song, but it could be folk lore, sometime. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 21 May 99 - 09:11 PM We have a Burmese cat called Dennis and he makes us very unpopular with our neighbours. He must be the original 'cat-burglar' as he steals objects from their houses and gardens and struggles proudly to get them through the cat-flap and present them to us. We keep them in a bag maked 'swag' waiting for our neighbours to claim them. I did mention this some time ago here and remarked, jokingly, that we kept showing him wallets and credit cards in the hope that he may bring home some thing more useful. We have both now come to the conclusion that he does indeed listen and watch us and this does influence the things he brings back. The first occasion we just put down to coincidence, when the day after Katrina dropped and bent the garden clippers badly, Dennis returned with a pair of better ones from neighbours, three gardens away. We returned them and thought no more of it, until last weekend. We purchased, I understand now, a chain for holding up those hanging flower baskets. It came in a small plastic packet, with the maker's name on it. I remember I saw one on the table and later saw it on the floor and picked it up and put it in the table draw. The next day when we were both home, I saw it on the floor again and said something like "when are you going to put that thing up, I keep finding it on the kitchen floor"? She replied that she had picked it up off the floor and had put it in the draw and what was it doing on the floor again? We looked at each other and then we looked into the draw to find two identical packets there. We now had three chains and we both looked at Dennis. The other cat brings in 'bunnies'. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Penny S. Date: 21 May 99 - 09:18 PM Great story. A neighbour in Rolvenden had a Siamese female who was spayed after a litter. When her offspring had kittens, she got very broody, and would go out and get baby bunnies from the fields, and lick them, and generally try to treat them as her babies. They, of course, were terrified! |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: bet Date: 21 May 99 - 09:39 PM Coming home from school one day last year my mother was franikly look for a hearing aide. She had checked everywhere, even in her car. Mat and I joined the hunt for at least an hour. It was no where to be found and Mom was pretty unset. In the wee hours of the morning when nothing was stiring not even a mouse I heard a squelling sound that I thought was coming from her sitting room. I went up sure to find her aide and all was silent. With the cat following behind and wondering why I was up and around so early I made my way downstairs to bed again only to hear the squell again. Back up stairs I went thinking I had just missed hearing it. No sound up there, so back to bed sound and all (neighbors have a hot tub close to my window thought maybe the sound was coming from there). I layed there a while before I started tearing my room apart. Buried in the dirty close basket was her squeling hearing aide. In the morning we figured out that she had taken it out when she layed down for a nap and it must have started squelling (wish I could figure out how to spell that, I know that's not right). The ever present cat heard it and thought it was alive so took it as a present down to my room. Mom was more careful after that. bet |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Mark Roffe Date: 21 May 99 - 09:51 PM Ginny and I had a cat Sputnik (or should I say she once had us..) who would bring us live gifts -- a snake, rats (and this was in San Francisco where snakes are not easy to come by!). Actually she meant for the snake to be a present for our newborn - she tried to put it in his crib. The way I figure it, the stores were closed, she didn't have any money anyway...so what else kind of gift could she give?? Bark |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Alice Date: 22 May 99 - 12:38 AM This has actually become a joke between me and my best friend, since he has the habit of not giving me anything that he has to spend money on... but, he cuts out articles and coupons, and gives me things he gets in junk mail that he thinks I might like. Well, after being presented with a pile of such one day, I said to him, "You know, I had a cat once who used to bring dead mice to me as gifts..." He got the message, but continues the habit, only now he refers to it as, "I have a few dead mice for you." alice |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 22 May 99 - 05:24 AM The very latest thing to arrive through the cat-flap, is a fluffy, new-looking tennis ball! Anyone for Dennis? We have a dreadful programme here called 'Through The Keyhole', maybe we could have one called 'Through The Cat Flap'. Where is Katlaughing? I'm sure she will have some good cat stories? |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 22 May 99 - 05:26 AM Got to go now, I have to put up three hanging baskets. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: katlaughing Date: 22 May 99 - 12:09 PM Shamb: I'm composing. Be back later after communing wid da catz:-) katlaughing |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Martin _Ryan Date: 23 May 99 - 07:57 PM For a minute I thought you guys were suggesting a new blood-sport! Regards |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Alex Date: 23 May 99 - 10:46 PM I also looked into this thread as a possible method for preventing the wholesale slaughter of wild birds by the (domestic?) cat. This, in my opinion, would be one of the (few) legitimate uses for firearms. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: gargoyle Date: 23 May 99 - 11:46 PM In the interest of preserving our folkways:
Does anyone know the formula/process for turning "Cat Gut" into violin and other such strings?
There must be some sort of a knack to it. I haven't seen it in any of the "Forfire" books. And they have lots great stuff. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Penny S. Date: 24 May 99 - 06:19 AM Someone did some research into the results of cats hunting wildlife, and discovered that the most common successful prey was rodent. Were it not for the cat, it opined, we would be knee deep in mice. Penny PS how do they catch all these birds, then. Can't birds fly? PS |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: SueH Date: 24 May 99 - 06:36 AM Ah Shambles you can rest easy(!) in the knowledge that Dennis is just doing what comes naturally for a Burmese. Fortunately mine don't go out as I am a breeder, so they make do with pinching socks, pens, anything which they can move, in fact. Most things turn up again eventually. However, I've lost count of the number of owners (not necessarily of my ex-kittens, I'm a regional advisor for the Burmese Cat Club) who've told me their cats have appeared with neighbours' Sunday dinners & the like..... Just to make this music-related, so I can't be accused of BS, how does Dennis relate to your playing any instruments? All of mine except one seem quite happy with my violin (& she runs as soon as she sees it come out of its case - mind you she does that with everyone's violin!), the others seem much more bothered about our piccolo player, when we have a band practice. SueH |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Banjer Date: 24 May 99 - 06:44 AM I don't think they would accept the viloin as readily if they KNEW what the strings are made of! Perhaps the ine that runs is the brightest bulb on the tree? |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: KingBrilliant Date: 24 May 99 - 06:46 AM My cat is not of the criminal fraternity. He is a harmless old drunk. We used to live a stones throw from a pub - and Squatter got so used to meeting us down there that he started to go out on his own. Typical bloke! I used to wake up at around midnight with Squats crawling up the duvet toward me, stinking of beer & smoke. Now we live further from the pub, but he still comes home smelling of beer & fags after spending his evenings with the old boy next door. Kris |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The_one_and_only_Dai Date: 24 May 99 - 07:47 AM My (our) cat, Jethro, arrived with my wife some years ago. She'd got him from Sheffield, and was a vegetarian at the time. Pretty soon, Jethro refused all cat food because, apparently, mum had something much more interesting... for three years, he lived on chickpeas, lentils, and aubergine bake, and was known on several occasions to bring a late-night present of a freshly dug carrot home. (mrooowwwwrr.. meeoowwwrrrr...). |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 24 May 99 - 01:45 PM Music does seem to go over Dennis's head. He does sleep in any open guitar case and looks very nice against the felt, green suits him best. He is a Red. I will publish a full list of the 'swag bag', as I think I had better write one anyway and put it through our poor neighbours doors, so they can claim their things. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting (more cat) From: Fadac Date: 24 May 99 - 04:09 PM Cats! We had a tomcat that would jump up about six feet and take down a flying bluejay. I never got it on film, but I had seen him do it time after time. We also had ferrits, and besides stealing my socks all the time, the did catch mice. One night we invited some friends to stay with us. When we unfolded the hide-a-bed, there were six petrified mice shoved neatly between the sheets. Needless to say we had to remake the bed before our guests would sleep there. -Fadac |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Penny S. Date: 24 May 99 - 04:15 PM Alright, I'm convinced cats can catch birds frequently. How big are your bluejays? Our jays are about pigeon sized, but crow shape. I've always thought they were among the more intelligent birds, so your story surpises me. We they trying to mob the cat at the time? (Asparagus, but with a folk version as sparrowgrass, I think). |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Fadac Date: 24 May 99 - 05:25 PM Penny, Hmmm, don't remember, this was about 12 years ago in Lousiana. This same cat took out a sparow while I was watching. Perhaps this was just a real talnted cat. The Apsaragua Cat, called Mr. C. Was a real 'frady cat. If I scratched my head, the cat would act like I was pounding the $#@@#$ out of him. Any sudden movemnt in the room freaked him out. That one hid from our parret that we had at the time. Ah, kitty cats. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Penny S. Date: 24 May 99 - 06:40 PM Thread creep coming. No cats. There's a guy in South London - no, I'll tell this the other way round. I was out for a walk in Crystal Palace Park with a friend one day. Those who don't know it, it's on a hill facing roughly south-east, with large grassy terraces cut in it, with stone parapets, huge flights of steps, all vaguely decrepit, and the odd sphinx dotted about. Anyway, we're walking along an upper terrace, hill on our left, and it's a dull, overcast, English sort of day, when something bright and un-English moves fast in the corner of my right eye. I glance round. Nothing but worn grass and the odd walker. I decide I must have imagined it, so I say nothing, and we walk on. Then it happens again. Bright, un-English, but a different colour, moving fast below me, parallel to the ground surface, and gone when I look round. Perhaps it is something wrong with my eye, or maybe my brain! I ask my friend if he saw it, and we look more attentively, to see a large macaw jetting across the park, circling round and back to a man with a long pole across his shoulders, on which another parrot is sitting. This guy is out taking his parrots for a walk! Penny |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Susan of DT Date: 24 May 99 - 06:47 PM When you get mad at your furry friends look up @deadcat. Since I have had asthma for 35 years, my cat owning days are done, but someone is advertising for homes for feral and "semisocial" cats to live in sheds. Hmm, I'm tempted. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: katlaughing Date: 25 May 99 - 12:16 AM Well, I've been thinking and the one that comes most to mind, was when we lived out on the Oregon Trail, yup ruts and all, on Poison Spider Road (lotsa black widows!). anyhow, we lived a 25 acre "ranch" with an infinished, but liveable house, one horse, a bunch of cats, and a dawg. The cats were free range, being afforded the opportunity ramble in and out at will through our bedroom window. This was the same window the horse would stick his head through early in the morning to let us know it was time for oats! Because of their catting about at will, we frequently had half-eaten bunnies and mice deposited along the floor in the midle of the night. I took to slipping on sandals as soon s my feet hit the floor, because I couldn't stand the thoguht of stepping on any poor critters guts! at this time our favourite tune was off of a Kliban ct kitchen towel: "Love to eat them mousies, Mousies what I love to eat, Bite they little heads off, Nibble on they tiny feet!" We rescued as many lives ones as we could, esp. the baby bunnies. Anyway, in 1983, Rog had already gone on ahead ot his new job in MA. The kids and I were finsihing up packing and my day job. One summer morning, I got up beforethe sun to go potty. Now, I never turn on lights when I am up at night. I wandered down the hallway, turned into the bathroom and sat down. we had the cat food dish up on the basin-less counter so that teh dawg wouldn't eat ll of their food, so it was not unusual to see a cat or two up there. What was unusual thoguh was to see them just sitting there, staring at the floor with huge eyes, instead os stuffing their guts. With the sun just beginning to shine some rays my way, I followed their line of sight to the floor about a foot from my feet and saw a poor little snake doing a fair imitation of a miniature cobra dance trying to mesmerise those cats and thus save its skin. Well, I say poor, little NOW! THEN,I yelled at my 13 yr. old son to rescue me, stopped "midstream", picked my feet up, watched the cats scatter in a zillion directions, when my son came in wielding the broom, clobbered the snake and removed it from my vicinity! I have ever since suffered from the guilt of it all, as the snake must have been terrified and was not a poisnonous one. It wasn't too long after that that we packed up the seven cats, one dawg, two birds, and flew off to MA, saying good-bye to the ranch forever, after selling the horse (hard to do) the ewe, the geese, the ducks, and finding homes for a few other cats! katlaughing, almost getting maudlin, it was idyllic out there, at times! |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: katlaughing Date: 25 May 99 - 12:35 AM Sheesh! It's late and I am tired! That's the only excuse I can give for all of the typos in the above. If anyone wants a reinterpretation, let me know and I will cut and paste and correct! katgroaning |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The_one_and_only_Dai Date: 25 May 99 - 06:10 AM Re my earlier posting. This morning, for the first time ever, Jethro had deposited a neatly dissected blackbird on our kitchen floor. Now I thought my phone bill was a bit large... |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: hank Date: 25 May 99 - 08:56 AM As my cats are happy to know, what we call cat gut is accually sheep gut. I don't know why the name. My cat is anouther fraidy cat. She runs away at the sound of the door opening, and if a stranger comes to visit we won't see her for a couple days. She runs to greet me every morning when I come upstairs (I sleep in the basement), and demands to be petted. Don't try to pick her up, she hates it. For that matter I can't get withing 6 inches of her, other then the hand thats pets her. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: Bert Date: 25 May 99 - 02:09 PM Every morning, one of our cats, Millenium by name, gets onto our bed comes right up to my face, purring loudly, and touches my nose. Then she will go down under the covers, cross over my legs, come up the other side and depart. 'Ghing, we bought a baby ball python for our daughter a few years ago. We showed it to the cat (different cat, this one's name is Tweeldle Dumber), who as far as know had never seen a snake. He jumped about two feet in the air and came down hissing, then took off like a shot from a gun. I know what it is to have a menagerie, one time we had five snakes, one turtle, two iguanas, two 'possums, two squirrels, two hedgehogs, a tarantula, a pacman frog, a bufo toad, two savannah monitors, an agama, a horny toad, a tokay gecko, a forest lizard, four dogs and two cats. That's apart from the 200 plus feeder mice & rats. And during summer break my daughter would bring home and look after ALL of the animals in the biology lab. Bert. |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: katlaughing Date: 25 May 99 - 04:24 PM INCREDIBLE, "Ert"! A-ghing! |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 25 May 99 - 04:32 PM Pre-Millenium Tension = Waiting for Bert's, in the morning? |
|
Subject: RE: Cat hunting From: The Shambles Date: 25 May 99 - 04:33 PM That should have read Bert's cat. |
| Share Thread: |