Evening star., 1945-05-30
This and That
BIZ Charles E. TrdceDell.

Il tLACE > 4.
Dear Sir:
Il started to write you before when
reader stated he hated cats, but let 1t 60.
Now read again that some one hates
cats and blames scarcity Of birds on
the cats.
You are right. Not many cats really
harm the birds. When my cat was a
kitten she kept me worried and busy
running after her every time saw her
sneaking close to birds.
Il like birds, too, and often put food
out for them, but always see that my
cat Is in the house when put out food.
It seems I worried needlessly, because
now my cat will sit for long periods Of
time just watching birds.
"She never goes too close for safety.
Cats are fine animals when treated
kindly. Our cat is not allowed out at
night and remains In the house most
Of the day.
"She is quiet and dignified, which Is
more than can say for most dogs.
can't understand why people don't get
angry over all the dirt dogs leave on
lawns and sidewalks and alleys.
Some people hate cats, dogs and
birds. I have a neighbor who told me
we wouldn't have so many birds around
If I didn't feed them. She was angry
because occasionally some clothes on the
lines get spot from some birds flying
over.
"She has two fruit trees in her yard
right by the clothes lines and have no
trees. Unfortunately, don't have room
for any. told her if never fed the
birds, we would still have them around,
hope.
why blame cats for bird killing when
man hunts and eats birds and other
animals? The lovely birds they eat, and
sweet, little, gentle lambs!
"A man is supposed to be more intel
ligent than animals. Until he stops
killing animals for sport especially, don't
make too much fuss over dumb animals
which seem to kill because it is their
nature. Neglected, hungry cats are not
to blame; it is their owners and nature
herself.
Il enjoy your column so much, and
ever since having cat thrust upon me
year ago for my children, have espe-
cially looked for anything you might
write about cats.
"The kitten was a nuisance at first,
but we love her now and wouldn't part
with her. BY the way, she Is here on
the desk watching me write and also
washing herself.
Sincerely, E. S. Y"
4 X X
People who take up watching the
birds sometimes acquire various phobias
They begin to hate cats or squirrels, or
even some of the birds, all of which
they think interfere with the songbirds.
Hitherto kindly persons grow red in
the face over squirrels, which are as
hungry as any. They want to kill doves
because they happen to see dove at
their feeder peck at cardinal
Before they became interested in bird
life the same thing went on all over town
and it didn't affect them one way or the
other, but now that they put out bit
OF food they forget what wise man
once said: When you establish free
lunch, you have no right to quarrel
with the guests who come"
Unfortunately, the very man who said
that-he was a high Government on
cial-spent much of his last days driving
cats away.
Cats do look very sneaky and prowly
when they spot congregation of birds,
but If those who watch with alarm at
first would stay to watch closer and
longer, they would discover that in the
end 1t is only the occasional cat which
really harms birds.
1t is no unusual thing in the yard
where feeding goes on regularly to find
the family cat or cats taking real
interest in the proceedings, just as they
do in flowers and gardening. Any one
who has watched cat tap the bowl of
an oriental poppy with an appreciative
paw knows that these odd animals ap-
preciate the good things of life.
Lack of birds, as pointed out here
recently by q. reader, may be due, in
some instances, to a leaky gas main
In the vicinity. It is well known that
birds are very sensitive to gases Of all
sorts, and smell them long before hu-
mans do. Canaries were used in the
trenches of World War I to apprise the
soldiers Of gas long before any one
could smell it. When they saw the
birds dropping dead. they put On their
eas masks.