A killer on the prowl...
By JJ
@JolietJake (50190)
May 3, 2017 3:03am CST
I'm still not quite sure how he manages it.
Everyone that knows me also knows Scar...and they know I only let him outside on a lead.
We have a city ordinance here forbidding cats to roam 'at large' to 'protect' the white squirrel population (Olney is one of a handful of cities with a large colony of true albino squirrels).
So when Scar goes out, he goes out on a 25 foot lead.
But somehow, this does not hinder his hunter/killer efforts.
He's racked up a total of three birds...and one squirrel (grey)...he has caught and killed while on his lead.
The guy is absolutely stealthy. I've seen him take 5 minutes to travel 15 feet when in 'stalk' mode.
And normally, everybody sees him anyway and takes off. 
But he's good enough at it that yesterday while I was here at myLot, I heard a bird in distress calling...really loud...and I knew what was up.
But by the time I got to the living room (I have the lead set so Scar can come in when I leave the screen door open) I was too late to save it, he'd already broken the sparrow's neck.
Of course, I don't scold him...he's only obeying his instincts...but I really wish he'd make more noise or something.
Schneaky cat...
But he's good enough at it that yesterday while I was here at myLot, I heard a bird in distress calling...really loud...and I knew what was up.
But by the time I got to the living room (I have the lead set so Scar can come in when I leave the screen door open) I was too late to save it, he'd already broken the sparrow's neck.
Of course, I don't scold him...he's only obeying his instincts...but I really wish he'd make more noise or something.
Schneaky cat...25 people like this
26 responses
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
The birds were fed daily for years before Scar showed up. I even tried putting a 'WARNING CAT ON PREMISES' sign up but I guess they can't read. 
4 people like this
@allknowing (148740)
• India
3 May 17
The bird is to be blamed - may it rest in peace. Knowing what is in store could it not have vamoosed from the scene?
2 people like this
@allknowing (148740)
• India
3 May 17
@JolietJake I have such scenes in my garden. Those strays that are regular visitors do not come out of love for me but they are in love with our birdbath (lol)
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
@allknowing We put feed out every day so they of course come here every day.
1 person likes this
@Lolaze (5092)
• St. Louis, Missouri
3 May 17
@JolietJake is it flooding over your way?
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
@Lolaze So much moisture my instant potatoes are already made when I open the package 
@Juliaacv (54040)
• Canada
3 May 17
Scar is just doing his best at being a cat, and the lead doesn't make it easy, but it makes his outdoor existence legal. He must have quite the eye and be very fast to still be able to do his cat thing while on the lead, you would think that would slow him down, but it doesn't sound like it has.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
First time I was speechless...second time, I was WTF??
Now, it's just 'Dang it Scar, not again'
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247157)
• United States
3 May 17
@JolietJake Squirrels are stupid as can be! He looks like Doodles in that pose!!!!
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
He's fairly patient...and the squirrels are pretty dumb
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
Nope, hadn't heard that.
I have a suspicion it wouldn't make much difference though. He's just schneaky.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (357256)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 17
@JolietJake He's pretty focussed here isn't he? 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (164499)
• United States
6 May 17
His victims are those who have become careless, and gotten caught. Princess does catch stuff now and then, including a mole, once.
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
6 May 17
He almost got another...I had a female sparrow trying to get through the front window a few minutes ago and he was heading that way...I brought him inside while I got the camera to get a photo of her.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16985)
• China
3 May 17
Well done your Scar! It is a good job Scar didn't kill a white squirrel !Does he eat the prey up?
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
I'm sure he wants to, but I take it away from him trying to discourage him from killing.
2 people like this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
Considering he is on that lead with that big clasp on it, he's got some finely honed skills.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
6 May 17
I am impressed with the fact he does all that on a lead!
1 person likes this
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
4 May 17
Can't scold a cat for his animal instincts, sounds like you have a very good guard cat.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
3 May 17
Look at those eyes! He doesn't miss a thing!!
1 person likes this
@mferreira (71)
• Twin Falls, Idaho
3 May 17
This is the first I have ever heard of a cat being put on a lead! I guess I don't get out much because I did not know about albino squirrels either. :)
1 person likes this
@JolietJake (50190)
•
3 May 17
There are 5 (I think) towns with large colonies of them in the USA, but not all are true albinos.
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
3 May 17
He is a Ninja. Hey, so cats can't roam free there because of ordinances wow.
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
3 May 17
I guess you should have named him Hunter @JolietJake .
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109845)
• Los Angeles, California
3 May 17
Scar is a fearless lean mean hunting machine.....when he isn't sacked out.
1 person likes this
