Favorite bird
Okay, there may be more than one favorite bird because, whether we like it or not, “cat + bird” is as hand-in-hand as “cat + mouse." This is yet another reason why my furry friends live indoors, in addition to their own personal safety. We are definitely wild bird lovers, too, and wouldn’t want our cats to contribute to the demise of these precious visitors.
Bird #1
Favorite Bird #1 is actually a bird from the Leo’s Paw wire game. Sargent Bentley was absolutely intent on removing it from its wire. Which is a) amazing, and b) not ideal, because it comes off with a metal clip that I definitely don’t want him to eat.
So:
Metal clip off (opening the circle by twisting in opposite directions with two sets of pliers – one to hold the ring, and the other to open it).
Favorite Bird game on (endless hours of fun plus, for better or worse, carrying it with him everywhere he goes. Read: water bowl. Dry-food dish. Bed (including my bed, though just for a minute).
The wire game is so dang fun. He will lip in all directions and for as long as it takes him to capture the bird. Again. And again.
The issue for Sargent Bentley is that he is so focused on not just capturing the bird but keeping his prize that he either a) releases the wire-game base in its quasi-adhesive suncdtion-cup attachment to the floor (no damage to the floor - huge bene), or b) gets the bird off the top, at which point the wire is irrelevant for a while, til I replace the bird there. Which you can totally do - Leo’s Paw sells replacement birds, as well – and so do a lot of knock off “makers.” We stick with Leo’s Paw. I know their quality and also, credit given where credit is due.
Bird #2
Favorite Bird #2 is a chirping bird - but not that chirping bird - the simple version. Stuffed bird, makes a sound, does so on contact but also (thankyouverymuch), stops chirping when left along, without you having to turn it off.
Fun. Favorite Bird #2 is also toted around and ends up in All of His Favorite Places, along with Bird #1 and Silvervine Mouse. Bird #2 does come with a bit more stuffing that, down at that instinctual level, Sargent Bentley wants to pull apart. So far it’s holding up, but I do see that sewing is on the horizon. I’ve already sewn a Favorite Bird #1.
Favorite Bird #2 comes with two little, like seeds (maybe?) of catnip. Kind of funny, at such a tiny scale. We didn’t use them. Found it to be unneeded. Set aside for a rainy / future birdless day.
Bird #3
Bird #3 ranks third for a reason. It is such an amazing idea to have a flapping, chirping bird that can move around that I had to get one – and, I suspect, a lot of other people did, too. But wow.
Firstly, it’s loud. Startling. The dogs had to come check it out, too because, after all, what the heck is that thing? Secondly, that’s no trivial mechanical box inserted inside it. It knocks on the floor, despite its cloth wrap. And it keeps going. And going.
We found that we could remove the box, with its wings, and – here comes that point about silvervine, again – inserted a silvervine mouse in it, instead. Problems solved. Favorite Bird #3. It’s still definitely left by the wayside more than the others, though. Idk if that will change as he gets older, but he has no trouble whatsoever holding that big thing in his mouth, box or no, and proudly strutting it around when he wants to.
What’s your cat’s favorite bird? Share in our IG page. I’d love to know.
