Cat and Mouse

"If any will not work, neither let him eat." Did the Apostle Paul intend for his famous admonition to apply to cats? Because, if so, the pictured feline will be seeing a drastic reduction in the daily distribution of kibbles.

One of our neighbors has been dealing with a mouse infestation, brought on primarily by the presence of loose chicken feed out by his chicken coop. As the fall weather strengthens, we are beginning to see a spill-over effect. It seems that mice, not knowing where the property line is located, have been coming to The Homestead for shelter. Once inside, they have been snuggling in for the long winter. There is no way that Rural Ways is going to share a pantry with mice, so I have been trapping them.

While killing mice is a somewhat unpleasant task, I would be much happier about it if I hadn't just spent the last six years sheltering a cat. If the cat can't take care of the mice, why am I supporting her? I suppose that we have been too soft. We have supplied her with store food for many years, which is likely to have blunted her native ferocity. Perhaps some rationing of the free food is in order.

(The fact that the object of my ire is currently napping in front of the woodstove is not helping her case.)