Mama Rabbit In Mourning Vigil

[frigilux]

Here's one from the 'nature is cruel' files.

For the second year, my front yard was playing host to a rabbit's nest. There were three little bouncers, and their mother was dropping by late in the evening to feed them.

I was visiting friends on Tuesday evening, and when I returned at around 8:00, there was a large gray-striped cat sitting on my driveway, licking its chops. I ran over to the nest, and sure enough, all three had been brutally killed.

I scooped up the...pieces...and threw them down in the tall grass by the river and when I returned to my house, I saw the mother rabbit had been witness to it all, near the retaining wall on the hilly north side of the front yard.

Wednesday morning, around 5:30, I looked out and Killer Cat had returned and was sitting by the now empty nest. I chased it away with a broom (how geriatric!) and by 9:00 a.m., the mother rabbit had returned and settled in next to a tree, about two feet from the nest. She left for awhile last night, so I thought maybe she figured out the babies were gone, but she's back again, today, keeping vigil. It's heartbreaking!

 

[nmassman44]

I do feel for that rabbit. What I dont get is why people let their cats out and roam like that. Mine dont go out and they are quite content on staying in the house. They love to look out the window and they have no desire to go out. I dont have fleas to deal with and I dont have to face finding one of them dead in the road or eaten by something. Its a shame.

 

[scott55405]

Mike I wanted to say the same thing but was afraid I'd get flamed by cat people. So I'm happy to hear it directly from a cat person. It's clearly for their own good to stay inside as well as other creature's.

I feel very sad about the rabbits and the poor mom.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I have five cats and only one wants to go outside, he was an outdoor cat when he was younger. I will take him out for about 5 or 10 minutes and a stay with him. He usually just eats a little grass, and walks around the back yard a little. He is never outdoors unattended or for long periods of time. He very content, just laying out on the enclosed back porch sunning himself.

 

[autowasherfreak]

I feel sorry for the poor mother. There is a family of rabbits in pile of branches in our back yard, I love to watch them early in the mornings from my chair on the porch. It was really cute one day the two babies were out, the squirrels were out, and two baby groundhogs. One baby rabbit and one squirrel touched noses and both jumped straight in the air and the baby groundhogs just kind of looked at each other as if there were saying what hell was that all about.

 

[danemodsandy]

The Truth About Cats:

My vet gave me some stark statistics about indoor vs. outdoor cats:

Indoor cats have a life expectancy of around fourteen years.

Outdoor cats have a life expectancy of around four years.

Big difference.

I also concur that keeping cats indoors is easier on wildlife like squirrels, chipmunks and rabbits.

 

[jeffg]

My dad took my brother and I rabbit hunting when I was five. I bawled like crazy. They're so adorable.

But this hypocrisy is built into the system. I'll never understand the hunter's mentality, who sees magnificent living creatures simply as food. From the cat's perspective these bunnies were just a really good meal.

On the other hand, if it weren't for this mentality, we'd never get to enjoy a steak or hamburger.

 

[autowasherfreak]

My oldest cat is around 16 years old, and she is terrified of the outside. She won't even go near an open door. But loves to lay in the windows, and sun herself.

 

[toggleswitch2]

It's an odd world in that we all have to kill to eat.
Even vegetarians.

There was a cat that lived in my current apartment (before I did) with its master, (who is unbeknowest to me). When he moved, he abandoned that cat who now lives in the garages. I hope he has all his claws! The neighbors are good to him.

I simply can't cave-in and let him move in, especially now that he has tasted freedom! He tries like hell to get into my common hallway/stairway and apt!

Cute bunny Eugene. I feel for momma.

 

[nmassman44]

Jeff cats that are well fed and that go out only hunt for play. Often times they dont eat what they kill. I have seen that time and time again with cats that I had in the past that did go out. Nothing like finding a dead carcass of a mouse or bird or even worse a snake on the doorstep or one brought into the house. I used to get the look of ...dad look what I caught!! Impressive at first but then that wears off.
Toggles that cat should get help. I would either call animal control or let it in. think of it this way ...imagine yourself living in a house and your owner up and leaves you...you land outside to fend for yourself and you have no idea what will happen. A cat that has been taken care of by someone depends on that person for everything. If it were me I would hunt that owner down and they wouldnt forget the cat again after I would be thru with em.

 

[toggleswitch2]

~Toggles that cat should get help.

And so should the other two who hang with him!

There are at least two women in my apt. complex who leave their garages paritally open for him and the others, providing shelter, and also feed and water him.

I'd really love to help him, but if he bonds with me and I walk to where he used to live, I'll never be able to get into my apt. without him!

He survived this past winter and I'm very happy for that!

 

[jeffg]

> Jeff cats that are well fed and that go out only hunt for play. Often times they dont eat what they kill. <

The same is true for some human hunters, too. It's even more incomprehensible to me than killing to eat.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Animals basically only kill to feed themselves or their young, or to protect their brood.

Humans however......

 

[jeffg]

True for most animals, however cats are one of the few that are known to kill for no apparent purpose.

They say apparent purpose, because no one knows for sure. It could be for practice, or play, or just for the heck of it.

 

[peterh770]

A very good friend of mine has rabbits. She told me that wild rabbit work this way. They have their babies, and leave them during the day. Basically, the adults protect themselves so that they can reproduce by getting away from their nests because the babies are such easy targets. Cruel nature.

Do you know to whom the cat belongs? I would have a long conversation with them...

 

[toggleswitch2]

me?

The former owner is long gone and I don't know him and have never met or seen him.

 

[bugsyjones]

Hmmm...Not too sure about those Indoor/Outdoor cat life expectancies...

I have two cats, both have lived WAY longer than 4 years. They are tandem indoor and outdoor. They only come inside to eat, nap, if it's too cold/hot, or raining.

They spend alot of time outside. My oldest cat (10 years) catches birds and mice and the occasional rabbit. She usually eats them though, not just hunting for fun. The younger cat doesn't hunt too much.

I don't mind them killing. It keeps those mice out of my house and the rabbits out of my garden.

I suppose if you keep you cats vaccinated, spayed or neutered, and maintain flea and pest control, they can live long lives just like indoor cats.

~Tim

 

[danemodsandy]

Tim:

Those are averages.

My vet tells me the two biggest problems for outdoor cats are cars and dogs, with cars much the more dangerous. In areas that aren't too built up, a cat might stand a pretty decent chance.

I almost lost my Tony when he was not quite two years old; he was allowed out during the day then. Tony is neutered, but one of our neighbours had an un-neutered psycho cat named Elvis. Well, Elvis cornered Tony one day and ripped his abdomen open; thank God we heard the yowling and could get the little guy to the vet.

Tony's an indoor cat these days, hale and hearty at nearly ten. And Elvis?

A car got him four years ago.

 

[toggleswitch2]

Waiter, there is a hair in my soup.

Many a New York City restaurant keeps a cat as a mouser and roach-eater.