Many of you will remember that I lost my beloved Napoleon from poison. Since then I have not dared to give my cats unlimited access to the outdoors, one of the main reasons for moving here.
Last week I heard that 'the poisoner has moved away', though the person who told me was very discreet. But I have been making enquiries since, and finally spoke to one of the farmers who lost some sheep around the same time. He told me that in fact he had lost 6 lambs, and had traced it to the drinking water. He was having a feud (I remember that well as it stirred up the whole village) with one of the women in my hamlet, and apparently she more or less admitted killing his sheep before she moved away at Christmas, when her husband and she were divorcing. She was someone I was quite friendly with, and she seemed as shocked as anyone when I told her about Napoleon. I suspect she was trying to get her own back on her 'enemy' and it never occurred to her that other animals might drink the same water. I know Napoleon went into the fields where the sheep were, and if he took it in through drinking it, it would explain why it acted so quickly, something I have never been able to understand. Also, it would explain why we found several feral cats dead in the same week.
I never suspected her because she used to feed the squirrels and had a dog, so I never thought an animal lover could do such a thing.
It is all over now, but it will be a relief to know that there is not something or someone lurking out there. I am still going ahead with enclosing my land, but at least I will feel my cats are a little safer. For the time being though, only 3 of them are going out as the others seem to have adjusted to staying indoors.
Last week I heard that 'the poisoner has moved away', though the person who told me was very discreet. But I have been making enquiries since, and finally spoke to one of the farmers who lost some sheep around the same time. He told me that in fact he had lost 6 lambs, and had traced it to the drinking water. He was having a feud (I remember that well as it stirred up the whole village) with one of the women in my hamlet, and apparently she more or less admitted killing his sheep before she moved away at Christmas, when her husband and she were divorcing. She was someone I was quite friendly with, and she seemed as shocked as anyone when I told her about Napoleon. I suspect she was trying to get her own back on her 'enemy' and it never occurred to her that other animals might drink the same water. I know Napoleon went into the fields where the sheep were, and if he took it in through drinking it, it would explain why it acted so quickly, something I have never been able to understand. Also, it would explain why we found several feral cats dead in the same week.
I never suspected her because she used to feed the squirrels and had a dog, so I never thought an animal lover could do such a thing.
It is all over now, but it will be a relief to know that there is not something or someone lurking out there. I am still going ahead with enclosing my land, but at least I will feel my cats are a little safer. For the time being though, only 3 of them are going out as the others seem to have adjusted to staying indoors.