From time to time the laws of nature in the animal kingdom as well as the human one must reassert themselves. Particularly the survival of the fittest or more to the point, the food chain.
Miss Pam and I are sitting at the breakfast table this morning gazing through the bay window at the assortment of critters going about the business of feeding themselves and their young.
Up close on the deck our little family of feral cats is happily grazing the fresh "trough" (currently have a momma cat and 6 half grown kittens) of cat food I put out earlier. The humming birds are vigorously defending/trying to take over the two humming bird feeders just off the deck. Our usually assortment of doves, grackles, blue jays, finches and sparrows are swarming their hanging feeders and the grounds just below them. The scene is almost pastoral.
Then, without any warning "something" Jumped up all the birds and they all skied up at the same instant, indicating imminent danger. The kittens all headed for cover. The momma cat just hunkered down and assumed the fight or flight position.
Lemme take a moment and tell y'all about this young momma cat. She is the daughter of our original Momma cat, Myah, from about 2 litters ago. She will be a year old sometime next month. We named her bond because she is a gorgeous black and white (tuxedo) cat. We both thought of James bond when we began watching her. We didn't know if it was a he or a she but Bond is an androgynous name that either could use so it was settled.
she is a very sleek cat as an adult. Where she is black she is a very shiny midnight black and where she is white (hind legs, chest and a narrow stripe down the bridge of her nose) she is a bright pure white. She has a long neck and a small head and a very muscular frame and reminds me of a cheetah when she is stalking a bird or a lizard.
This is her first litter and she is a terrific mom. Keeps all 6 of the little ones with her and makes them mind. She is infinitely patient when they want to nurse. she will lay there till the last one has it's fill.
And since they've been on solid food she stands guard over them while they eat. (we have a nosy possum that comes by once in a while
) When she catches a dove or a lizard she takes it to the kittens. She stands by while they kill it to make sure it doesn't get away and then she backs off and stands guard until they have had their fill. If there is any left she will take it under the barn and finish it off herself.
But the point is that she is a great provider, patient, protective mom and we have really enjoyed watching her raise her babies. She has done a wonderful job with them and it's only her first litter.
Anyway, back to the events of the morning: When we last observed the birds had taken off and the kittens had run for cover. Only bond remained where she had been.
We looked over just in time to see a hawk hit a white wing dove as it was trying to take off. Caught it about 3' off the ground and brought it down. It was immediately dispatched. I don't think it even knew what hit it.
The basic rule of survival in the face of danger is that there are three possible courses of action:
.Duck and cover
.Cut and run
.Stand and fight
But this morning our heroic little momma cat added a 4th option. Go on the attack. After only a few brief seconds of watching the hawk shred the dove I could almost read her mind: Oh no you don't! You ain't gittin' MY dove! You go hunt somewhere else, this is MY yard!!!
With ears laid back and all her teeth gleaming in the morning sun she hit full stride in about 3 steps. She was already in the air when the hawk took off. It was a win/loose situation for poor Bond. The win was she never actually made contact with the hawk; the loss was the when the hawk took off it took the dove with it.
Bond was furious and if she'd only had wings....But we're glad it didn't come to blows because it would probably have ended badly for our valiant little momma. We are amazed and very proud of her. She is a very special little lady.
On a side note: of all the feral cats we've had over the years she is only the 2nd one that ever let us pet her or pick her up. She hasn't let us touch her since her babies were born but we hope she will eventually let us have contact.
Miss Pam and I are sitting at the breakfast table this morning gazing through the bay window at the assortment of critters going about the business of feeding themselves and their young.
Up close on the deck our little family of feral cats is happily grazing the fresh "trough" (currently have a momma cat and 6 half grown kittens) of cat food I put out earlier. The humming birds are vigorously defending/trying to take over the two humming bird feeders just off the deck. Our usually assortment of doves, grackles, blue jays, finches and sparrows are swarming their hanging feeders and the grounds just below them. The scene is almost pastoral.
Then, without any warning "something" Jumped up all the birds and they all skied up at the same instant, indicating imminent danger. The kittens all headed for cover. The momma cat just hunkered down and assumed the fight or flight position.
Lemme take a moment and tell y'all about this young momma cat. She is the daughter of our original Momma cat, Myah, from about 2 litters ago. She will be a year old sometime next month. We named her bond because she is a gorgeous black and white (tuxedo) cat. We both thought of James bond when we began watching her. We didn't know if it was a he or a she but Bond is an androgynous name that either could use so it was settled.
she is a very sleek cat as an adult. Where she is black she is a very shiny midnight black and where she is white (hind legs, chest and a narrow stripe down the bridge of her nose) she is a bright pure white. She has a long neck and a small head and a very muscular frame and reminds me of a cheetah when she is stalking a bird or a lizard.
This is her first litter and she is a terrific mom. Keeps all 6 of the little ones with her and makes them mind. She is infinitely patient when they want to nurse. she will lay there till the last one has it's fill.
And since they've been on solid food she stands guard over them while they eat. (we have a nosy possum that comes by once in a while
) When she catches a dove or a lizard she takes it to the kittens. She stands by while they kill it to make sure it doesn't get away and then she backs off and stands guard until they have had their fill. If there is any left she will take it under the barn and finish it off herself. But the point is that she is a great provider, patient, protective mom and we have really enjoyed watching her raise her babies. She has done a wonderful job with them and it's only her first litter.
Anyway, back to the events of the morning: When we last observed the birds had taken off and the kittens had run for cover. Only bond remained where she had been.
We looked over just in time to see a hawk hit a white wing dove as it was trying to take off. Caught it about 3' off the ground and brought it down. It was immediately dispatched. I don't think it even knew what hit it.
The basic rule of survival in the face of danger is that there are three possible courses of action:
.Duck and cover
.Cut and run
.Stand and fight
But this morning our heroic little momma cat added a 4th option. Go on the attack. After only a few brief seconds of watching the hawk shred the dove I could almost read her mind: Oh no you don't! You ain't gittin' MY dove! You go hunt somewhere else, this is MY yard!!!
With ears laid back and all her teeth gleaming in the morning sun she hit full stride in about 3 steps. She was already in the air when the hawk took off. It was a win/loose situation for poor Bond. The win was she never actually made contact with the hawk; the loss was the when the hawk took off it took the dove with it.
Bond was furious and if she'd only had wings....But we're glad it didn't come to blows because it would probably have ended badly for our valiant little momma. We are amazed and very proud of her. She is a very special little lady.
On a side note: of all the feral cats we've had over the years she is only the 2nd one that ever let us pet her or pick her up. She hasn't let us touch her since her babies were born but we hope she will eventually let us have contact.
Seems like mostly old timers posting on here. 
