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A writer by passion and profession, I've been writing since I was old enough to know how, so establishing a weblog
seemed a natural progression. By adding a blog to my site, I can speak about my passions and life, share my writing, art
and photos, and comment on current events.
Saturday, August 16, 2003
Cat more compassionate than people According to an article from the Canadian Press republished on the AZCentral.com news site, the Weller family cat, Patches, has shown more kindness to some baby mice then her family did.
"I didn't want mice in the house," said Irene Weller after one of her daughters found a nest in the house. Weller threw the baby rodents outside. The next day, however, they found Patches nursing a couple of the baby mice. Later on when her children were playing with the mice away from Patches, the cat reacted.
"Patches was upset they weren't in the bed," Weller said. "All she wanted to do was lick them."
Regional wildlife biologist Bob Forbes said such bonding is not entirely uncommon, but expressed skepticism at the chances that Patches, her 7 kittens and the baby rodents will be a family.
"The milk is not compatible so the animals being nursed won't thrive," he said. He went on to speculate that the animal mom usually loses interest and the orphans wander off.
Maybe they won't be a family, and maybe some people won't consider the action of Patches to be one of compassion. Maybe they'll dismiss it as merely maternal instinct kicking in; so be it. Patches still showed more maternal instinct than Mrs. Weller when faced with the babies. I say, "We can learn something from Patches."
