23 March 2008

While we're on the subject

So the woman next door has made a couple of comments to me about the cats. She doesn't like cats. She's never seen our cats kill a native bird* or any other indigenous wildlife. I suppose she's heard old Pouncey roughing up a few other cats in the middle of the night and the screaming involved in that does tend to rip one unceremoniously from the dreamless. But when it all boils down to it, she just doesn't like cats. She's a peace-lovin' hippy which is why she keeps big, ugly dogs which occasionally wander free when she forgets to close the gate. No harm in that.

The other day we were having a chat and I mentioned that our cats are excellent rat-catchers. They seem to be up to a couple a week. I like to get some good publicity in for the old moggies whenever the opportunity presents itself.

She told me, "Oh, they're probably getting them all from our yard. If we bothered to turn the compost or trim the vine we wouldn't have such a breeding ground for them."

Now look, I don't know about you but, in her shoes, I'm not sure I'd be getting all high and mighty about the local felines and advertising the fact that my entire 550 suburban square metres is one big bubonic petri dish.



*To our knowledge they've killed one each. AZnd we think one of them was half-dead when Pounce caught it. Excuses, excuses.

4 comments:

Philosophical Karen said...

Ew! (I don't know what else to say, really.)

Lonie Polony said...

I second that. Why would one not do all one could to prevent disgusting rats congregating and breeding near one's house? The mind boggles.

Spud Mack said...

at least it is keeping your cats fed. Think of the money you are saving.

hazelblackberry said...

Oh no, the little buggers still scream for their supper. Not sing, but scream.