A question of balance
I am an animal lover. I make no bones about that.
For 20 or so years, I have been a believer in "indoor cats" only. I know the stats on their health, I know it's good for birds, I understand the value.
And then along came Fluffy Butt who, before she came to us, survived a harsh winter outdoors. I don't know her whole story, but I know she is a tough little girl. And she LOVES the outdoors. I started letting her out for brief periods under supervision this winter - and she is a totally different cat outdoors. She runs, she climbs trees, she talks - it is a visible difference.
So - I've relaxed my stance and all four cats are now indoor-outdoor to some extent. (They all come in at night. Two like outdoors better and two like indoors better.)
Which brings me to today. I heard FB calling, and rushed out to find that she had a baby bird. It's been windy, and I truly believe the bird fell from its nest. I was able to take the bird, bring it in, start triage, call the rehab - and then she had a second bird. I was unable to help that bird. I tracked FB back (yes, she went back yet again) and found the nest (empty) and an eggshell underneath.
Even if I had made the cats stay inside, the hatchling MIGHT have died from exposure - or from the three (that I know of) other cats that regularly frequent our yard.
'Tis a conundrum. How do I do what is best and fair for both birds and cats? I cannot and will not train the basic nature out of them.
And so I am sad. And wishing I were rich enough to build a cat play pen. But even that would disrupt our bird life . . . .
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