Betty, I am the same way- I see an animal who needs some sort ofa ttn and I want to help. I just moved back here from AZ a year ago and I have seen a number of dead deer on the sides of the road- which just tears me up. But the cat.... I agree- you can never 100% trust that instinct that they have about birds. Just picked up a friend's new cat from the animal shelter/vet this a.m. Oh that cat is such a love. snuggles in my lap, purring like crazy- what a winner she found! later Paige > > Yea Paige, you can never be truly sure can you? I never see Jubal acting > aggressively toward birds or any other animals in the backyard, but he is a > cat and I have to assume that sometimes instinct can take over. > > There is another cat -- Oscar is his name -- who lives nearby who comes to > visit frequently. Oscar is young and full of life. He definitely shows > birding potential. He likes to sit in my lap when I'm sitting in the back > yard, so I take Jubal's brush out with me and brush him when he is visiting. > While I am doing that, I talk to him and tell him that he has to learn to > curb his birding nature so the little birds that come to my feeders will be > safe. Am I hopelessly idealistic or what? > > Oscar is just too adorable for words. He is a b & w domestic long hair -- I > mean really long hair, and he is developing three or four mats on the side of > his body. I want to help him, but every time I try to get to those mats he > gets upset. I know they must be hurting him; they are right next to his > skin. I think they will have to be cut out. > > I don't know who his owners are and I don't know if they would get mad if I > were to do this, but since they are not doing it maybe somebody should. > Their phone number is on Oscar's tag, but I am reluctant to call them to ask > if I can take him to a groomer to have this done. It would be like saying > "Since you are not taking care of your cat, can I do your job for you?" I > don't want to come off like that, but I know that mats hurt. > > I'm being overly Motherly to all the little animals since I just lost Astro. > > > Betty > > In a message dated 11/04/2000 1:38:58 AM Eastern Standard Time, > [log in to unmask] writes: > > > hi betty > > my cats don't have their claws..but i am always on hand also... > > > > > Betty > aut viam inveniam aut faciam > "I will either find a way or make one." ------------------------------------------------------------- Sign up for ICQmail at http://www.icq.com/icqmail/signup.html