Open Writing

Any cat worth his meow will keep the home free of mice and rats. This statement is made by a human. Cats often have other ideas.

I remember the evening, several years ago, when I was seated on a couch watching television. Our two cats were seated by my side. I became aware that the cats were staring at something other than the TV. I followed the direction of their gaze. Slowly walking across the floor was a very small mouse. It seemed to be unaware of our presence. I was sure that the cats would spring forward and do their feline duty. No way! They were more firmly fixed in place than I was. What could they have been thinking? Had all my preconceived notions been wrong? Later, I dismissed their obvious guilt, imagining that they were having a bad fur day.

For decades later, we had a succession of cats, mostly two at a time since each cat seems to be happier living with another cat especially one of the opposite sex. Some of these animals were excellent mousers, others couldn’t care less. The really good mousers display an incredible joie de vivre that is expressed by such actions as flinging the mouse against the wall, growling at the mouse after it is too dead to move or laying the mouse on my pillow when I was away from my bed. All of these are noble traits. They are perfectly consistent with my job description for a good cat.

A typical event recently occurred in the middle of the night. I awakened to hear the sound of one mouse body being thrashed against the floor. Groggy with sleep, I turned on the light to see my black, male cat throwing what looked like a mouse into the air, over and over. I turned off the light and went back to sleep. I must have turned the bed covers down somewhat. I awoke to find Mr. Cat frantically digging and trying to get under the blanket. It took me almost thirty seconds to realize what had happened. After I had gone back to sleep, he must have placed the victim next to me and then I pulled up the covers to get warm. Now he was trying to retrieve his prize.

I turned down the covers and, sure enough, there was a dead, nine-inch long (not counting the tail) rat. Some here would call it a La Jolla Roof Rat or a Norway rat. I turned the light on, picked up the rat by tip of his tail and marched outside to deposit him in the garbage can. I returned to bed and went to sleep to the insistent mewing of Mr. Cat who wanted his prize back.

Do you intend to get a cat? If the answer is, 'Yes,' then you should think about the following. Is your cat’s being a good mouser important to you? I have found that having a cat that is a good and cheerful mouser adds an important and practical dimension to a cat’s personality. He not only has reason to take pride in his work, but he also develops a bit of a cocky attitude that makes him more welcome and friendly in large gatherings of guests in your home. Furthermore, by helping to keep your home free of rats and mice, he is contributing to your hygiene and welfare. Also, I cannot downplay the entertainment value of having this brilliant beast toss a bit of mangled prey against the wall or into your bed.

Rats and mice is what’s
they’re fur,
they hunt and seek
and furthermur;
They are strong
and they are swift,
when you speak
they get the drift.

They are cats
and they are proud;
for them as pets
my praise is loud.

© Colin Fisher

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Colin writes for Bonzer! magazine. Please visit www.bonzer.org.au