Corn On The Cob

The internet has become a great tool in researching.  I thoroughly enjoy sitting behind the screen looking up information in the comfort of my own home.  Who would have ever thought growing up in the sixties that such technology would be available?  The education I got those years back does not compare to what I am learning on my own by researching.  I can’t say whether everyone benefits from this knowledge at their fingertips.  But I do.

In writing these articles about cats, I do research.  I had pets all my life.  There are still things I don’t know.  For instance:  A male cat is called a Tom.  Wait!  I did know that!  But I never knew what a female cat was called.  She’s merely a She, Queen, but more commonly, a Molly.  A male cat neutered is a gib.  An inside cat is a Housecat by name. Yea, I had heard that somewhere.  Wild cats in a group are a colony.  The knowledge even on cats can be endless.  But what puzzled me the most is what a cat can and can’t eat. 

It was all those years in the sixties growing up on a farm, we had cats.  Since we grew most of our own food and my parents ran a country grocery store, we went seldom to that big food chain store.  We already had the basic needs. 

I never once saw either parent buy that bag of cat food for personal use or to sell in the store.

I remember Mother saying, “You can feed the cats just about anything.  But don’t give them chicken or fish.  They can catch bone pieces in their throat.”

It was the only restriction.  And so; chicken and fish were disposed of properly.  We fed our cats table scraps.  The cat seemed to love that bowl of fresh milk from our own cows.  No one ever said we were feeding our cats wrong.  It was a time of not knowing different or questioning. The cats on a farm seemed to have a long life unless some unforeseen tragedy took them.

But today the list seems endless to what not to give them.  There’s chocolate, grapes, raisins, sugary items, milk, onions, and garlic.  And the list goes on and on.  We do feed strays and indoor cats, the dry cat food, canned food, and treats.  Our indoor cats are spoiled and will not eat any scraps from the table.  The outdoor cats will eat scraps.  It states in the list that one can feed table scraps, but not to exceed 10% of the diet.  Table scraps to an outside cat is like a delicacy.

We became amused when we first saw the stray cat named Skillet eat corn on the cob.  I don’t know what or how we first started this.  If one ear is put out, one cat may eat and others wait in line for their turn.  It is seen as an item to protect and not given up easily to others.

Whenever corn on the cob is on our menu, it's also on the stray cat menu. 

Then; There Were None

            Out of four kittens, only one survived.  It was the offspring of Devil Eyes.  It was a solid black long haired kitten.  It grew up with us not knowing what it was.  Whether male or female, the extremely long hair and the distance the stray cat kept itself from us, made it impossible to tell its gender.  And so; we named the cat Tarzan.

            But Tarzan soon showed us what it was.  The cat turned out to be a she when she brought near the feeding area for strays, seven little kittens.  At first she moved them between flower pots and then slowly into an open shed she moved them.  I began to think we miscounted as next day there were only six.  And then; the next day there were only four.  The next day had us counting only two.  And then; there were none.

            The advice is not to feed strays as it would surely bring other wild animals.  But what killed the kittens?  They did leave small bits of kitten behind.  We had to find out what killed them.  Was it raccoon, opossum, skunk, fox, or just what was it?  It was two sleepless nights for us with the culprit showing himself.  Food placed in particular areas had us seeing a back yard infested with raccoons.

            Tarzan, or should I say Jane, has continued to stay around.  Apparently she will do this until she goes into heat and becomes chased by males.  Traps can catch raccoons.  But still it is illegal in the state.  And so, avoiding this act of nature happening again, the food must go.  Raccoons are nocturnal animals and so before dusk hits, the cat food and water is now taken up.  In case a raccoon lingers behind past daylight, there is no food put out until around nine.

            It was a scary thing staying up and watching inside the safety of the den the pack of raccoons in the back yard.  I did research on the internet looking for all I could about the raccoon.  The taking away of food seems to be working.  They learn a route where they suspect food to always be there.  There isn’t any now at night.  There is no indication left that they have now been around.

            I realize they say there are so many strays out there.  But how can that be as there are now seven less.  And this is not the first time cats or kittens have disappeared.  There are predators out there it seems for all different animals.

            What I thought was safety in my back yard turned out to be a death trap.  But still cats need food and water to live.  The food will continue to be put out and taken up.  One battle has already been won as we are certain it was raccoons.  It hasn’t taken the cats long to figure out new feeding time of nine.  Upon the picnic table and on the patio, cats are in wait for food and water.  And what is so surprising to us is that the cats didn’t stay around much in the daytime before.  But now, they are lying around more in the area.  Could they be feeling safer?  I know I feel something different about the back yard.  I really believe the raccoons are gone.  Perhaps that is the difference I feel.  Perhaps that is the difference the cats feel.  I will stick with what I am doing about the food.  If it stops working, I will change to another plan.  For now, it is working!

            Raccoons are pretty animals.  But they are known to carry rabies.  The raccoons must stay gone.

Theodore

Theodore was a member of a Robin family.  He was one of four baby birds.  Since hatching, all were nurtured by Mom who brought worms.  From the start, Theodore displayed independence earlier than the rest.  While Mom was away from the nest in search of food, Theodore climbed to the edge of the nest.

“It is time,” he said, “I can teach myself to fly on my own.”   So off the edge of the nest he jumped only to fall to the ground. 

            “I know I’m ready.”  He kept telling himself.  With his continuous flapping of his wings from the ground, soon his efforts had become real.  Finally into the air, he did go flying.  “Hooray, I’m flying on my own,” He yelled this at the top of his beak.  In his excitement, he lost track of where he was.  He looked around and began to cry.  He didn’t see his Mother, Father, two brothers, nor sister.  He was alone and he was lost.

            Upon return to the nest with worms, Mom noticed immediately that one was missing.  “Where’s Theodore?” she cried out. 

            “He fell out of the nest!” The little birds all yelled at the same time.  There came an immediate search of the ground as Mom and Dad both flew about looking for the lost Theodore.  They made contact calls hoping he would hear.  And when the search came up empty, Mom began to fear the worst.

            “Theodore has surely been seized by some predator.  It was surely a cat!”  She told her husband.

            “You’re always thinking the worst,” He replied.  “From the time he was hatched, he was learning survival.  He’ll be alright.”

            With each passing day, it seemed obvious that Theodore was not coming back.  Each available moment Mom and Dad taught the young birds the importance of family. 

            “You will become impatient to grow up.  But don’t try to grow up too fast.  You will learn to fly.  You will learn survival with proper teaching.  Please allow us to teach you all what you will need to know to make it on your own.  Independence will come in its own time.”

            And in time, all did learn to fly.  They did leave the nest to go out on their own.  But never once did they forget family as every holiday, they returned home.

            It was on such a holiday when to their surprise a strange bird appeared at the nest.  But he was no stranger at all.  His name was yelled by all, “Theodore!”

            And now everyone sat on the nest listening to Theodore’s many adventures. 

            “Let me tell you about my encounter with a cat,” said Theodore.  “Was about to become his meal.  But I talked that cat down with kindness.”

            The story was a little bit hard to swallow.  But everyone listened.

            “We learn to respect all God’s creatures.  They have their place on earth too,” He said.

            Maybe Theodore’s stories were a little hard to believe.  But a little kindness and respect can go a long way in any situation.