Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Feathered and Furry Friends
It’s a bit of a dilemma as both call my backyard, home.
They come as they please, my feathered friends, the regulars and seasonal visitors.
They find shelter, water, food, and many, a nesting place.
The furry residents call the same domain their kingdom.
I don’t worry much about Tiger who ambles slowly about the garden
before settling down to rest.
It’s Benji I worry about – don’t let his innocent look fool you.
So I do what I can to keep the furry ones inside during the day.
It’s mostly working.
Sharing with Sunday Stills.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
I love your cats, Susanne, they are so adorable! ❤️
Thank you so much. I’m rather fond of them myself! 🙂
I hope they don’t go after the birds. Maybe that chattering sound will warn you of an impending attack.
I’m always on alert when the boys are out during the day. I haven’t come across any casualties this year.
That’s good!
Maybe he needs a catio.
Perhaps, but it may be too late for that. Tiger is too old and slow to catch anything, and I try to keep my eye on Benji when he’s outside. Fortunately, the older they get, the slower the get, and like to sleep inside during the day.
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Those cats are stealthy if you let them, Susanne! They’re so adorable. Great shots of the birds enjoying the bath. You have good shade so I’m sure you get a lot of birds lined up to bathe 😉
The birds really appreciate the water and birdbaths. As far as the cats go, it’s a dilemma, as they are indoor-outdoor. Fortunately, they spend most of their time inside during the day, preferring to be out at night. After these boys pass on, any new cats will be of the indoor variety only.
Bear doesn’t chase the birds but he finds squirrels and rabbits in the yard to be fair game to chase.
They do have the chase in them, don’t they? A bit of a dilemma but you can’t change their nature, only do your best to prevent the worst outcomes! 🙂
Thankfully the rabbits mostly stay out of the yard now. However, there are hawks in our neighborhood and the rabbits aren’t safe from them.
‘Benji The Bird Killer’ doesn’t seem to be living up to his name this year. Good news for all the cute birds. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
Thankfully, he seems to be staying in more and losing his touch! And becoming a fair weather cat. (Finally.) 😊
Tiger, you shouldn’t drink from the bird bath- birds have a lot of bacteria. You are both such cuties.
I’ll pass the word on to Tiger but I’m not sure he’ll receive it well. He loves the water from the birdbaths. 😺😺
We try to keep the cats inside when the birds are active but that doesn’t protect the lizards. Half the lizards in my yard have no tails and the other half have re-grown them. And the poor grasshoppers, I find them wobbling around in circles with missing appendages. Only the gophers go unmolested ~sigh~.
Yes indeed.. I try to do the same with our cats. It’s certainly a dilemma though I don’t mind if they take care of the moles and voles at night.
Hi Sue,
It’s a real dilemma indeed when you love them both! It’s always so sad when a bird gets brought back as a trophy!
~ Christine
Yes, a real dilemma, but thankfully, I haven’t seen any casualties this year.
You know how much I love your cats but I’m glad you’re able to keep them separate from your feathered friends 🙂
Benji is the one I have to keep my eye on. Thankfully, no casualties this year.
My cat Fida was too “portly” to effectively hunt but his companion Kasha was lethal! Fortunately they were very happy to remain indoors – only venturing out when on their halters…
Tiger is a ‘senior’ kitty, at 15 yrs old he moves pretty slow. But I have to keep an eye on Benji as he’s fast and still in his prime.
Your garden is so pretty! I love the bird pictures, but of course I love the kitty pictures more. 😻
Aw thank you so much! I love the birds but am rather partial to the kitties myself! 🙂 🙂
Lovely images. Our neighborhood seems to be teeming with outdoor cats and I have seen with my own eyes one of the cats go up a very tall bush in our own garden and come down with a baby bird. I guess nature can be brutal but I, and your gorgeous feathered friends, appreciate your taking care during nesting season to think about keeping your cat inside. I know they can’t help but follow their natural instincts….
It is sad. Nature is rough and even larger birds attack smaller ones.(Hawks, eagles, crows.) We have very few cats in the neighborhood. Benji and Tiger go outside but I’ve never seen them climb trees. I mostly worry about the birds that come down to the birdbaths or the ground feeders and do my best to be outside when they’re active.
Good kitties …. and you too!
Most of the time! 🙂 🙂
Currently have cardinals nesting in our lilac and carolina wrens in our garage wall. Neither like being disturbed of course, but they are where we constantly pass. With a huge yard, they must prefer to be right near us!
How wonderful! And I doubt whether your puppy would bother them.
She leaves them alone and doesn’t seem to mind them coming and going from the lilac even though it is quite close to where she walks.
THese were all really great
Thank you.
What a charming story with lovely imagery! I love how you captured the elements of nature so well, the birds, Tiger and Benji. It’s a wonderful reminder to appreciate the beauty of the little things. Thank you Susanne for this lovely post!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you. 🙂