This tale contains
graphic scenes which may discombobulate readers of a nervous disposition
The
Doozers dwell in the other half of this semi.
We share front and back garden fences and, fortunately, similar opinions
on gardening and wildlife.
As
previously mentioned Jessie-cat from No3 is a regular visitor to our house and,
despite (or perhaps because of) my protests Fester feeds him. I believe there are two other reasons why
Jessie keeps calling:
his house has three small children;
they’ve locked their
cat-flap because he kept bringing in dead (half-dead?) rodents.
A
couple of weeks ago we had a few days away leaving feeding our cats in the
capable hands of Miss Doozer. On the
third day she sent me this text
“I
have just found Jessie Cat down the end of our garden with, literally, a rat’s
ass. Arse, two feet and a tail. Turns out, if you don’t feed him, he makes
his own entertainment.”
Both
the Doozers and we put out bird feeders which, unfortunately, attract
rats.
I also blame neighbours who put up
double fencing and decking which provide highways, hotels and homes for
rodents. To be honest we’re not that
bothered as long as they keep themselves to themselves (rodents, that is, not
neighbours but ...).
However, when they
start climbing up the trees and down onto the feeders (quite ratrobatically)
and/or knocking the feeders onto the ground then it gets a bit much.
One
would think three cats in the vicinity would put them off but …
Last
Sunday I facebook-messaged Miss Doozer
16.46
“There's been a rat
up the tree after the birdfood. Yesterday
as I was sitting under the bower, with Teddy at my feet, looking at the
tadpoles, a rat climbed through some vegetation into the pond, had a drink and
went away again without Teddy stirring a hair. Once the rat was gone Teddy went and sat on
the bistro chair and looked at where the rat had been. He did once sort of put his haunches up and I
thought he might pounce - but no.
Just now
looking out of the bedroom window I saw a magpie on the bower bench. It went behind and, after a few pecks, brought
out a rat. Which it has proceeded to
peck to death. It tried to fly away with
it but it was too heavy so dropped it. It
is now proceeding to consume it, bit by bit, on the lawn.
Meanwhile
Teddy is snoozing inside the coldframe.
I'd blog
about this but then Mrs Leftfoot would never visit me again.”
She
replied
16.50
“Lovely
Glad to see
the magpie doing its bit.
Out of the
boys, Jessie is the ratter.
Saw him
going for them each evening at sundown”
Bentonbag
16.53
“I think
the magpie was cheesed off at getting its food nicked. Good for Jessie.
I think
Felix is past it now, and Teddy's a paper tiger.”
Miss Doozer
16.55
“Magpie may
also have a nest nearby
Offence
being the best form of defence”
Bentonbag
16.56
“One did fly off a couple of weeks ago with a smaller rodent
Teddy had left on the lawn (not convinced he dispatched it). Lots of fresh meat for the chicks.”
Miss Doozer 16.58
“The chickens on the yard eat the rats despatched
by the cats and terriers. Lovely eggs
with rich yellow yolks. Yum”
After
entirely hollowing out the rat, leaving only its skin with head, feet and tail
still attached, the magpie walked through a gap in the fence into the Doozer’s
garden.
Then
first thing Monday morning Miss Doozer messaged me
07.21
“The magpie has either got another rat, or the
same rat, and it is eating it in our garden.”
07.38 Bentonbag
“I put the hollowed out rat remains on the bird table
and it went quite quickly so I think it's another rat. Hopefully the one after the bird food. Go magpie!”
07.43 Miss Doozer
“In the Terry Pratchett Ankh Morpork books (the ones with Wizards or the
City Watch), there is a Dwarf (think the gold and singing type) eatery called
Gimlet's Hole Food Delicatessen
Menu reads
Fried rat
Soya rat
Pizza
"Quatre rodenti"
07.44
Bentonbag
“No Rat a
Toowee?”
07.45 Miss
Doozer
“Oh god
You have to
blog this
Drummerman
would be in his element”
