THE BUSHCATS.

We send you greetings. We are the wild ones. There are four of us of various ages. We perch on flat roofs,on top of high walls and in trees. In the daytime we are invisible. The night time is filled with our battle cries.
No matter where we were, we were always in sight of The Bush. Growing at the angle of two high walls,it was large with pretty light and dark green variegated leaves. Its lower branches swept the ground. On either side were smaller versions. We would creep, unseen, close to the walls, under all this vegetation. Our interest in this garden was food! A white-haired old lady, who owned the garden, would place dishes of food and water under The Bush every evening. We were very happy. We had supplies!
From our vantage points we became aware, one dreadful day, that change was on the way.There was much movement in the lady's house, big packing cases appeared. Later,vans took furniture away. Our kind provider left too. The house was locked up, the garden deserted, no food appeared under The Bush. We were devastated.
We took turns in scouting, looking for another food supply. Our night time battle cries grew louder. We even appeared, furtively, in the daytime. We wanted to be noticed. We were very,very hungry!
Several days went past. We found meagre pickings, drank from puddles and worried. Things looked extremely bad.
Suddenly, the youngest of our band reported back with a glimmer of hope. He had noticed someone placing a large wooden box,on its side,to make a shelter. It was weatherproof with a perspex roof. This was just two gardens further away from The Bush. This garden was well equipped too with lots of concealing vegetation. We crept nearer to have a look. What was the box for? The wildest rumours circulated. What if? Maybe!
The same night we investigated. In the box were two dishes of food and a bowl of water. We did not need to be asked twice. We left very clean plates! Day after day more food appeared. Now and then we even find treats.
We may be feral cats but we are not stupid. Nor are we ungrateful. By careful observationwe have discovered where our provider lives. Now and again, as proof of our gratitude,we deposit gifts on her door mat. These are the fruits ot our night time activities. She is happy with the attention. We are happy and once again, very well fed!!

Copyright Jacqueline Hastings 2009