Ruby and the visitor

The Mad Scientist's household usually includes a cat or two. The current contingent consists of the Senior Diva Ruby (about 8 years old) and the Junior Diva Jasper, aka Jazzy-Purr (about 16 months old). They are both indoor cats, except when they've been watching 'Prison Break' and decide to have another go. We have provided space for birdwatching at the dining room window. The birdfeeders hung up outside are changed seasonally. April through September it is a hummingbird feeder; the rest of the year a seed feeder for everyone else. They are well patronised. Always enough to keep the felines amused.

They do the typical cat thing of crouching and 'chattering' when they spot someone at the feeder. Eventually their instincts get the better of them and they often pounce at the window as well. The birds don't mind; they know they are safe behind the double glazing. The larger birds attract more attention. The cats sit up, ears forward and don't move. When we saw Ruby in that 'freeze' the other day, we assumed a crow or mourning dove was outside. But no large corvids/columbids to be had. She then ran to a living room window on the side of the house. Same attention. Of course we followed, but still no birds. Ruby then even stood up on her hind legs to get a better view. Rare behaviour on her part. Finally we spotted what she had seen minutes ago: one of the wild cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus sp) that come round from time to time. They are the colour of the gravel that often passes for a front garden locally, making them harder to see. Ruby must have thought we were utter dolts not to have seen the rabbit. It moved on eventually and Ruby resumed her twitcher status at the dining room window.

Budget recipe of the day: http://notecook.com/main-course/chicken/spicy-chicken-burgers/