‘Kayso, the wildlife in the Concrete Jungle has held Ramses’ interest from day one – more so than any other feline that’s lived here over the years. I don’t know if we’re attracting MORE wildlife or if my little House Panther just has more of the hunter in him. It might be a combination of both.
With the combination of bird feeder and Hummer Café we have a plethora of feathered critters coming and going throughout the day: Finches, robins, doves, etc. Although birds predictably drive Ramses nuts they didn’t hold a candle to the frenzied fits that Hayley brought upon him. (His whole body would quiver.)
Last September, Mick the rat appeared – followed the next month by a family of mice…
The glass doors in the living room became one gigantic Kitty TV.
October 29, 2021
This morning Ramses caught a mouse. As long as it’s not too cold I’ve been letting him out in the Concrete Jungle while I get coffee going and do my morning chores. He brought it to me, proud as could be, already dispatched with a neat bite to the neck. The purr-fect feline predator! Of course, I praised him up one side and down the other; but I didn’t take it from him until he started batting it around.
Good job, Ramses! Good job! ^｡ꞈ｡^
(The mouse got a proper “burial” in the ivy surrounding the complex. I said a prayer.)
The next month he caught a second one; however, this mouse he did not immediately kill. The poor thing was mortally wounded though. Once again I praised Ramses, gently scooped the body up and laid it to rest in the same place and manner as the first.
Fast forward to this year…Ramses has upped the ante. No longer is he just my House Panther. No longer is he just a supreme hunter. He is now an Apex Predator. (Well as “apex” as you can get for a Felis catus.)
Fortunately for all of us the rodents disappeared early this year and have not returned. (Fingers crossed.) The birds are another story…
7.18.2022: Ramses almost caught a bird.
Recently two birds flew through the back door into the living room. Fortunately, both found their way back out immediately without further incident. I made the comment that I didn’t mind Ramses hunting mice, but I didn’t want him killing lizards or birds. I spoke too soon… (and I should’ve knocked on wood.)
August 10, 2022
Another bird flew into the house but unlike the others, who found their way back out immediately, this one ventured down the hall into the dining room – where Ramses caught it when the bird was instinctively drawn to the window. Two days ago he caught a baby Western Fence lizard in the Concrete Jungle.(Both the finch and the lizard were given the same “burial” as the mice. That area of ivy is now, officially, our little cemetery.)
August 15, 2022
Because of the unfortunate incident on August 10th, we are now leaving a 1′ wide crack open in the screen door when we are outside. Damned if some bird flew right towards that opening and into the house! (WTF!?! Did he purposely have a death wish?) I, Ramses, and Tim (Who was in the living room.) all reacted. Bird flew to dining room window with cat right behind. With both of us yelling “Ramses, no!” he changed course and ran up the stairs.I was able to catch the bird and released it (unharmed) back outside. Maybe he’ll tell his tale and we can avoid another accident.
Meanwhile, Ramses received some fresh tuna as a “concillation prize”.
So…don’t let this innocently sweet face fool you.
He’s really the devil in disguise – but I love him none the less for it. ❤
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House M - 