Not Yet A Bayou Cat

   Bat, the cat, is trying so hard to become a "regular" cat that he is overlooking the fact that he should be trying to become a "Bayou Cat".  Bayou cats have duties.  They should understand that to be "cared for" also requires "caring for".  Turnaround is fair play.  If you want to eat and have a cozy home then you have to work for it.  That is a rule if you wish to stay at the Little Bayou House.  There are no freeloaders.  We each have our jobs and that is all there is to it.

  By trying to become a regular cat, he thinks "if something moves", it is a target.  Butterflies, bees, moths, shrews, frogs and lizards are all on his spectrum of edible things.  The cat is not hungry.  Trust me.  He eats enough to feed a horse.  Still, he tries to catch any squirming thing.  I am ok with the shrews and even the moths and butterflies that are laying eggs in the vegetable garden but I draw the line on those bees, frogs and lizards (as I will with birds.)  Fortunately, the bees can pretty much take care of themselves.  One sting is going to make Bat think twice about attacking any others. 

  Today, I had to reprimand him for attacking a bullfrog.  The critter was merely trying to hunker down in the mulch to stay warm but Bat was relentless.  I heard the telltale grunt and knew the cat was up to no good.  A good swat and the frog was removed and placed in the water hyacinths.  The cat bounded off unhurt but pouty.  Five minutes later, he was at it again.  This time it was a hapless lizard.  The poor thing was in enough of a bind because it was shedding but to be smacked at by the goofy cat was over the top.  Again, swat and pout.  The lizard was relocated to the greenhouse where it could shed in peace.  The next was another lizard.  This time a five-lined skink caught the brunt of the Bat Attack.  It lost the tail but Bat was not interested in the tiny part, he wanted to batter the lizard.  Swat and pout!  The skink was relocated to a clump of palmettoes.  

  It looks like the swatting is doing no good so perhaps next I will resort to the water hose.  Maybe getting doused a few times will make him think otherwise.  He needs to go smack the rats that live under the shed and leave my helpful critters alone!  What did I get myself into by agreeing to keep this "throwaway" cat?  He was rescued from a sure death but now I am having to rescue everything around here from his assaults.  Hopefully, he will learn his place soon.