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An elderly couple refill a wooden bird feeder full of sparrows while a Siamese cat sits quietly on the deck watching. 25 / 31

A Dozen Sparrows Landed on the Feeder. One Siamese Didn't Move a Whisker.

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A flock of little brown sparrows has gathered on the wooden tray feeder, and Ruth and Harold are topping it up with seed. Ruth, in an olive jacket with her hair piled up, leans close with a gentle smile, and Harold, in a tan cap and plaid shirt, carefully sprinkles seed from his fingertips. The birds hop around the tray as if the grandparents are old friends. Just below, on the gray deck boards, Miso sits motionless, tail curled around his feet, blue eyes fixed upward. He has not moved a whisker in minutes. Potted herbs, a blue watering can and a wooden fence surround the cozy backyard corner.

Bird feeders and cats can share a yard, but it takes some planning to keep the birds safe. Cats are skilled hunters, and even a well-fed, friendly cat may react on instinct. Placing feeders high off the ground and away from shrubs where a cat could hide gives birds time to spot danger and fly away. Many owners keep cats indoors or on a harness while birds are feeding, and indoor cats can still enjoy the show from a window perch. Watching birds through glass is often a favorite pastime that keeps a cat mentally engaged without risk to wildlife.

The sparrows chatter, Ruth hums, and Harold refills the last corner of the tray. Miso watches it all with the patience of a cat who knows that, today, looking is all he gets to do.

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