Bullies

                Have I ever mentioned that cats are the bullies of the animal kingdom?  Not only do they play with their prey—releasing and recapturing it repeatedly—they also like to pick on the disabled.  For example, one of Finny’s favorite pastimes is visiting Mouse.

Mouse--sweet, innocent victim of cat bullies

                Mouse is the next door neighbors’ elderly, blind, diabetic, little Westie terrier.  The dear thing waddles about on his leash finding his way by bouncing off trees and porch rails and bushes.  On his visits, Finny sits 6” past the end of Mouse’s rope and in his very cat-like way, doesn’t make a sound.

                Poor Mouse can’t see him but I suppose he can smell him nearby and  gets increasingly agitated as the minutes pass.  (This is starting to sound like a Frank and Jersey story.)  We don’t always notice his predicament right away, but as soon as we do we go over and drag the little bully home.

                I often wonder why cats act like that.  My guess is that it’s their curiosity in operation.  They try stuff just to observe what will happen, and when it comes to observing, they have the patience to watch their subject for as long as they can stay awake.  Empathy is pretty weak in their skill set, so I doubt they ever worry about their victim’s distress. 

                I once looked out the window and saw Frank in his prey watching stance, but I couldn’t get away to investigate for another fifteen minutes.  When I did go out, he was still frozen in place watching.  About ten feet away a rabbit was nibbling on clover, completely unaware of the danger it was in.  I got a hold of Frank, who was purring violently, and shooed the rabbit off.

                I may not like their behavior, but I have to admire their patience.