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An older man holds birdseed in his palm near a feeder full of sparrows as a tuxedo cat sits calmly on a deck railing. 9 / 37

The Sparrows Swarmed Grandpa's Feeder. Domino Was Watching Something Else.

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Half a dozen sparrows cling to the backyard feeder, wings flickering, while one more swoops in toward the seed in Grandpa's open palm. He watches through his glasses with a patient, faraway look, standing perfectly still so he won't scare them off. Just a few feet away, perched on the weathered deck railing, Domino sits with his tail tucked and his white paws together. He's staring at Grandpa rather than the birds, wearing an expression that seems to ask whether any of that seed is for him.

Cats and bird feeders are a tricky combination. Even well-fed cats have a strong hunting instinct, and birds gathered at a feeder can be easy targets. If you enjoy feeding wild birds and also have a cat, a few simple steps help: keep cats indoors or supervised, place feeders high and several feet away from shrubs or ledges where a cat could hide or leap, and clean feeders regularly to reduce the spread of disease among birds. Indoor cats can still enjoy the show through a window, which many find endlessly entertaining, and it gives them all the excitement with none of the risk to the birds.

Today, at least, Domino is on his best behavior. Whether that's good manners or simply the fact that the railing is a comfortable spot to sit, nobody can say.

A quiet yard, a handful of seed, and a truce that holds for one more afternoon.

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