Feb. 7, 2008 Thursday

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We've come to accept Hunky and Dorie chasing each other around the house. They enjoy themselves and get their exercise at the same time.

But last evening was different. Couldn't explain why it was different; there was a different pattern to their acivities. We thought maybe they were each playing with a toy.

Further examination proved that to be the case. Hunky had a live mouse and he was carrying it around by the tail, while Dorie attempted to intervene.

Unlike Opie or c.c., who never harmed their catches, Hunky and Dorie's limited experience with rodents has usually resulted in the demise of the small creature.

But Hunky dropped it, and it took off, with both felines in hot pursuit. This is where I intervene. I got an empty cereal box from the recycling and located Hunky and Dorie intently staring at a duffel bag against a wall in the spare bedroom. I placed the open end of the cereal box to one side of the duffel bag, and poked the mouse with a pen from the opposite side. He ran right into the box (I've had years of experience doing this).

He was released to the compost heap out back, and all returned to normal.

Except I have no idea where our housebound cats found a mouse.