Three hummingbirds fought all day over the small amount of sugar water in the feeder. Three is a record. Maybe it’s because of the heat.
If it weren’t so hot I’d make them so more of their sugary drink, but I seem to have melted into my chair.
I’m not going to be one of the it’s-too-hot complainers, I’m just sayin.’ “I’m melting, I’m melting!” Like the Wicked Witch of the West. If only my cats could toss a bucket of cold water on me, like Dorothy did in the Wizard of Oz!
Around dusk, I sat in the backyard trying to cool down, when a young black and white cat with a black button nose showed up looking somewhat friendly and a whole lot hungry. She (?) didn’t let me pet her but she sat close by.
I did something I swore that I’d never do, I fed her and gave her water. Yes, my bad. The poor thing gulped down a half can of wet cat food and a handful of kibble, plus a half cup of water.
Poor thing. I didn’t think she’d ever stop eating, but when she finally did, she laid down and took a nap.
It’s a slippery slope I was walking, but the next night as I fed my four babies, I happened to go out to water the veggies… with a small plate full of food.
Don’t tell my family!
Little Button Nose didn’t show. Maybe she was still sleeping off the dinner I gave her the night before. Or maybe she was having dinner at her house, if she has a house.
She showed the next morning, though. Three of my cats didn’t pay her any mind, but shy Claire growled like a lion, with her white tail fluffed up. Funny, she’s the biggest scaredy-cat but she defended her territory.
I read all the cons about feeding a stray cat; Doesn’t solve the hungry cat’s problem, it just gives temporary relief. Feeding encourages dependence, making them less resourceful in finding food on their own. It attracts more cats. Also, it attracts other wildlife, which leads to waste accumulation. There’s potential for disease transmission. There’s an impact on wildlife, especially birds and small mammals. It increases risk for stay cats that might have to cross roads.
After reading all that, I took the plate of food inside and gave it to my cats and then went back out to actually water the veggies and sit and enjoy the slight breeze.
I just wanted to chill and beat the urge to adopt another cat. I really wanted to swing in the hammock but we all know how that would end (see June 4 Lake County Record-Bee)! Besides I sold it to my neighbors.
As I sat on the patio, I could smell the oleanders or maybe it was my half dead jasmine plant. I had to cover my ears because a bluejay screeched overhead as if its nest was being invaded and Little Button Nose didn’t show up, even though I had hoped she would.
What a girl to do?…maybe go inside and make sugar water for the fighting hummingbirds and hope for cooler days on the horizon.
Lucy Llewellyn Byard welcomes comments and shares via lucywgtd@gmail.com
