When you have as many cats as we do, it helps to have a little bit of record keeping about when the last time somebody saw someone.
Topaz has been missing for a week. This is not unusual for her. Despite her cute little kitten face she is very spicy. But she loves my wife. Sometimes we find her outside and bring her in. Sometime she comes in on her own through the cat door.
Today she came in on her own. Topaz spent the whole day getting attention from my wife. She is currently sleeping on the air intake for the dead HVAC.
I always take a picture of her because I am crushed that this is might be the last time I will see her. I’d love to keep her inside. But feral cats have a certain set of skills to let you know you do not want them trapped inside.
There aren’t any birds. I totally understand where you’re coming from. It’s an issue I have thought about a lot. But where I live there aren’t any birds. I remember birds. I remember when they could literally block out the sky with their murmurations. But they’re not here. They all died. It wasn’t cats that killed them. It was us. It was our pesticides. It was our herbicides.
I don’t live in some Urban hell hole. I live in the country. Cows out-number people on my block. For every bird that shows up there are 500 rats, mice and voles.
I used to worry about this. But reality has taught me a very different lesson.
I don’t know where you live but it’s hard for me to imagine a place without birds. That’s rough.
The main reason behind declining bird numbers is habitat loss. But that doesn’t mean cats don’t play a huge role in this decline:
I live in a rural area between major cities. My wife and I have frequently talked about how few birds there are. The only time we get a decent sized flock that reminds me of my childhood is starlings. And even then it doesn’t count because the flock isn’t nearly big enough and starlings are invasive species that should be killed on site.
It’s not just habitat destruction. It’s the lack of bugs. Destroy the habitat and the bugs can’t breed. And the birds can eat. We are on year nine of no pesticides. This year was the biggest firefly bloom I have ever seen. I’m hoping that next year is even bigger. Fortunately, the guy who owns the 34 acres behind me is all about organic practices and doesn’t use anything more than turkey manure to fertilize his crops.