I’ve kept readers up to date of late with the workout we’re giving The Big Green Egg, but some of the folks who enjoy my columns have asked how our cat, Finn, is doing?
He’s ticked off the birds in the backyard, so he’s just fine.
It is hilarious to watch him in action. He’s a vampire of sorts, as he works best at night.
When I see him out and about at night, he’s in his element, and brimming with confidence. The hunter is on the prowl.
Some of you may recall the night be brought a rabbit to our back door earlier this year when Mary Beth had to force him to drop the terrified bunny. He dropped it, but as soon as the rabbit took off, Finn took off right after it, and caught it a second time.
Mary Beth made him let the critter go again, and both animals disappeared around the side of the house. To this day, we hope the rabbit got away.
The same cat during daylight hours is at times a timid wimp. We’ll sit out back and he’ll stroll across the kitchen to look out the screen door. But half the time, when we open it, he won’t even venture forth.
When he does, oftentimes he’ll quickly turn around at any sound and want back in.
I like to leave the door closed so he’ll stay with us.
He’ll usually relax and roll around in the sun on our patio, stretching out as if he’s on display.
The fact is, Finn is on display – to the neighbourhood birds. They don’t like him much at all (surprise). Our backyard can go from a peaceful place to one of cacophony when Finn steps outside. Blackbirds especially verbally express their disdain at the very sight of our cat.
Robins aren’t overjoyed to see him either.
But the blackbirds – they’ll sit in the maple tree that provides shade on our patio and cuss out the cat. Sometimes, the noise pushes Finn towards the back door, but other times he will quietly cuss back.
It is in the form of his mouth moving and him expelling air as his jaw moves, more of a whisper than anything else. His eyes are wide and he’s letting the birds know how he feels, albeit at a lower decibel level than what they utilize.
According to moderncat.com (yes, that is an actual website, if you can believe it), it’s called chattering.
“The chatter is thought to be an indicator of a cat’s predatory excitement and of his stress at not being able to get to the prize,” the website states.
Maybe Finn is just telling those birds that he’ll deal with them after dark. Perhaps it’s yard-talk (lawnics?) and he and the birds are just puffing out their chests and dropping insults back and forth.
Regardless, it’s entertaining. My form of reality TV without the TV, the script (please tell me you don’t think reality TV is remotely, well, real), and dim-witted or pompous humans.
Just a cement-head cat and a bunch of birdbrains. Add a cool beverage and something on the grill, and I’m all set.
