I am the life support system for a cat who returns the favor by killing and dragging into my house all manner of wild animals. Although the tone of this poem is jocular, I find my cat's hunting prowress heart-breaking, as I have no objection at all to the little creatures she kills. She is a great cat otherwise.
D I A N A I N W H I T E F U R
My cat’s a little predator
Though meek and self-effacing
I sigh and shake my head at her
But I can’t stop her chasing --
-- poor little mice, and great big rats
And tender little frogs
And voles and snakes and baby bats
And lizards under logs.
I tell my friends about my cat
They don’t believe a word
(They haven’t seen the mouse, the rat
The frog, the vole, the bird)
I tell my neighbors and they laugh
They don’t believe it’s true
(Until they see her dragging half
a rabbit: then they do!)
I feed her well, but even so
She has to ply her skill
She prowls and stalks just like a pro
Then leaps to make her kill
I yell at her, I stomp and swear
Shout ‘Leave that poor mouse be!’
She just pretends that I’m not there
And races up a tree
What can I do to make her quit?
Should I remove her claws?
That wouldn’t help a single bit
I’d have to wire her jaws!
Oh why did Mother Nature make
My little cat so vicious?
I wish for little creatures’ sake
They weren’t all so delicious.
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Written by Phil (6713 comments posted) 19th October 2006 |
I don't think it has anything to do with taste. I think it's hard wired into their tiny brains. The mouse population around our house must have dropped considerably since we adopted our cat.
Enjoyed your verse. Not high brow poetry, but well worth a read.
All the best,
Phil |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 19th October 2006 |
Actually, I've had many cats before who just killed for the sake of killing and left the corpse. This one eats whatever she has killed, and with such obvious pleasure it is honestly riveting to watch. All she leaves of the mouse is the skull and all she leaves of the bird is the beak, feet and gizzard.
To look at her, I swear you would never guess that she was such an efficient killer. She is beautiful and gentle looking, with a mild, truly modest nature that belies her savage tendencies. Never in my life have I met such a genuinely polite, docile cat and never in my life have I 'supported' (I will not say 'owned') a cat who has killed with such breath-taking skill.
Even if it was doggerel (no pun intended, and it most surely was!), I felt that I had to write her a poem.
Thank you, Phil, for reading and commenting. Our cat is adopted too: we felt sorry for her as she looked so helpless. God, were we taken in. |
Written by Phil (6713 comments posted) 19th October 2006 |
Strange. Our (well fed) cat eats the bird's bodies, leaving wings, head and feet, and just kills the mice.
Can't say ours is gentle looking, mild or modest. As far as he's concerned, he's the boss. Just as well I'm a lot bigger than him.
All the best,
Phil.
|
Very much a dog man...
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 21st October 2006 |
So I decided not to post a comment - oops!
What a viscious pussy you have Witzl! Fnarr fnarr, Oh, you are awful!, titter ye not!!
Nice light piece as an antiodote to all the angsty/heavy stuff.
Oli
 |
Vicious
Written by Talisker (1326 comments posted) 21st October 2006 |
I meant vicious of course, my spelling is atroshus!
Oli |
Written by Witzl (1585 comments posted) 21st October 2006 |
Thank you, Oli. When it comes to light-weight doggerel, I flatter myself that I can churn it out as well as anybody. Better, probably.
Said vicious cat brought home a live vole last night and proudly presented it to me by yowling outside my bedroom door, shattering my hard-won three hours of sleep, so we are not on speaking terms just now. Two hours ago I would probably have traded her for a large, drooling, shaggy, shedding, fully-ripened hound of any breed.
Perhaps I will post my own dog story on the 'Non-fiction' site some time. I too have loved dogs. |
Miawoooo..
Written by gerardconnolly (1186 comments posted) 21st October 2006 |
Lovely piece of business, Mary. Great wicked fun! We had a cat, Satan, 2 stone black moggie. All he ever did was fart in the living room at meal times, leave his hairs everywhere and stuff his face my my expense. Eleven years amidst the rolling fields of Essex and Suffolkand NOT A SINGLE MOUSE!!The useless, bone idle fur bag!!! I fought a running battle to persuade him to leave home including on one infamous occasion getting so angry I almost stuffed him up the venting of the tumble dryer! Our youngest caught me and I got reported to HQ. My wife was livid and made me feed him red salmon for a week. We went away on holiday and when we came back there was a dreadful putrid smell in the house. We found him dead behind the fridge. The children were distraught ..... and blamed me! I felt dreadful!!
Lovely poem. Nice to read something mercifully free of teenage angst. Poetry for wanton enjoyment.
Thanks also for your kind E-MAIL. I will reply as soon as I have time to give it the attention it deserves.
Slan! |
Written by gutterkitty (362 comments posted) 23rd October 2006 |
| A very enjoyable, light-hearted piece. The last two lines made me laugh out loud! |
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