the moth olympics

mystik spiral

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This is Holland's favorite time of year. The miller moths are out in full force. Although my bleeding heart feels bad for the way the moths are treated by my baby, I assure myself that my mom is right - they don't feel much of anything.

So here are Holland's insights on how to earn a moth olympics gold medal:

1) Find the moth. They can be tricky, but I have found that they like to hang out near lights.

2) Trap the moth. My favorite trapping areas are window screens and lamp shades.

3) Pick the moth up in your mouth and move it to a more desirable playing location. Recommended: those areas that are free of furniture or other hampers to fun play time.

4) Let the moth go. If it is feisty, it will fly off again, and steps 1-3 will need to be repeated until the moth can do little more than flutter helplessly along the floor.

5) Once you have subdued the moth appropriately, it will still try to get away, but at a floor-level, rather slow pace. Let it off the hook for a while, teasing it with its freedom, but refrain from taking your eyes off the prize.

6) Assume your best pre-pouncing pose. When the moth has managed to flutter its poor, broken body several feet away, put your pounce pose into action and spring forward, placing a front paw on the body of the moth to let it know who's boss. If desired, pick the moth up with your mouth and move to a different play space.

Repeat steps 5 and 6 until the moth is no longer showing signs of life. At this stage of the game, there are two choices: 1) Leave the dead moth so you can attend to some other, more important cat activity (one of your servants will dispose of the carcass), or 2) eat the dead moth (note - they don't taste that great, but the reaction you get from your mom will be worth it).

I have yet to find another single toy that will get Holland running, jumping, stalking, creeping and pouncing all in one play session. And they're FREE!!! I keep telling myself I have GOT to get this on video...
 

otto

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Hai, Holland kitt-ee yew arr vewry SMAWT tew mayk doze rools!

Eye lyk tew chays de moffs tew! Firss Eye SSING tew dem wen dey arr onin de seelink.

Den eye leev dem wetit anin SOGGEE onin de FLORE fur myown mommee tew kween uyp inin de MORNININ.

Mazy cat
 

taryn

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Yes, Nuts found out not long ago that moths don't taste good. He picked up to eat it and immediately spit it out ad gave 'the look.' You know the one 'why didn't you tell me that was yucky?'

Taryn
 

xocats

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Holland .... fierce hunter of moths.
 

kailie

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Oh Miss Holland, no doubt my Elliott would be your biggest competition.
If there is ANY kind of prey in the house, he's on it faster than I can blink.
 

otto

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HA HA that's GREAT! Way to go Genever! I like at the beginning how she has both her mouse AND her moth.

She's looking great!
 

Winchester

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OMgosh, that's hilarious! I love to watch the kids trying to catch bugs. You can see the determination in their eyes.

Post your video, if you take one....I'd love to see it!
 

katachtig

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My girls are so jealous. We've only seen a couple of moths this season.
 

strange_wings

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Since I keep and breed mealworms, I have to deal with meal moths.
Tanna has found the perfect way to catch the moths... she meows loudly at me until I get up and catch the moth for her. It gets better, after she eats the moth I give her she'll whine at me to go get her another one.
I have lazy cats.
 

lyrajean

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Tell Holland she should try cockroaches. Apparently they taste better, or so Aya tells me. Once you pull off all the prickly legs wings antenae and shell.

The downside is of course that they don't really fly, but they scurry away fast enough that chasing them around the apartment is still mightly good kitty fun.

If Holland wants to come to Okinawa, I'm sure Aya would be happy to give her lessons in gokkuburi catching (at least once she gets over her dislike of other cats). The big 2inchers we have here make for nice crunchy eating, with a chewy soft center inside -yuck!
 
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mystik spiral

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

Tanna has found the perfect way to catch the moths... she meows loudly at me until I get up and catch the moth for her.
Holland is so little, she gets SO aggravated when the moths sit on the wall out of her reach. I have been known to "swat" them down to her level too...
But she wants the hunt and capture once she can reach them!!

Originally Posted by Lyrajean

Tell Holland she should try cockroaches. Apparently they taste better, or so Aya tells me. Once you pull off all the prickly legs wings antenae and shell.

If Holland wants to come to Okinawa, I'm sure Aya would be happy to give her lessons in gokkuburi catching (at least once she gets over her dislike of other cats). The big 2inchers we have here make for nice crunchy eating, with a chewy soft center inside -yuck!
I caught her eating a cricket once. Since she has no teeth, she usually gives up after gumming her bugs for a few minutes. Gross. I don't know about Holland, but I would LOVE to go to Okinawa!! Not for the bugs, though...

Holland not only has a dislike of other cats, but really a dislike of ANY person or animal who is not her mommy.
I think she and Aya may be kindred spirits.
 
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mystik spiral

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claydust

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Read the original post, now thats funny and I can relate.

Little Morgan, my "tuxedo girl" specializes in moths, too.

Oddly the best fly catcher in the house is the otherwise lethargic, unambitious "orange guy", Taz. A fly will go over him at about 3 feet off the floor. Suddenly, 20 pounds of oranage "flabby tabby" goes from on being his side, looking totally inert, to launch mode, the fly is caught with both front paws and becomes a snack


Kasey, my "rescue tortie" who has been here just over 2 years distains such trivial targets. In her past, tough life, she used to take down victims up to the size of rabbits.
 
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mystik spiral

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Holland is nowhere near 20 pounds (she's so little, around 7 pounds) but I can sympathize about your Taz! Lots of times I can't get Holland interested in playing with me, but if a moth crosses her path - oh boy! Let the games begin!
 
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