To let the squirrel in to play the Xbox, and while I'm here - do cats understand lawnmowers?

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Yes I am sober.

We have a few regularly visiting squirrels, i feed 'em nuts as i quite like to see their happy little squirrely faces jumping around the garden. One squig though always seems to stay around when the xbox is on (you can see it from the patio doors). I've just turned it on to have a sneaky go at minecraft - squig is eyeballing me again. Tempted to pass him a controller and see what he can do. That's perfectly reasonable isn't it?

And on the cat thing. Last time I mowed my lawn, cat (not mine) just kept moving a little bit away rather than buggering off somewhere else. I swear it was tutting at me as well every time the mower got near him. Don't they understand I'll be mowing the whole lawn?? For notoriously lazy animals, he created quite a bit of work for himself there. Its been bothering me.

TIA for any sage advice in these pressing matters.

[GetOrfOhSodOff]

Squirrels are one of satan's creatures, don't let him in. He is not interested in mine craft. He just wants to plot your downfall.

Chase the cat with the lawnmower for your own amusement,

[whogrewoutoftheterribletwos]

Are you feeling quite right?

Agree with pp about squirrels. They're terrible house guests and never pay rent

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Aw but they're so cuuuuuute! Although they may be less cute this side of the glass admittedly.

[landoflostcontent]

Do NOT trust squirrels with any electrical items. They are not to be trusted! One chewed through our tv aerial cable, water ran into the video recorder (some while ago) and ruined it. He then set up home in next door's roof, raised a large family who, on leaving the nest, moved into my car engine and used electric cables as teething rings for the babies.

Am at a loss to understand the motives of the cat - as you say they are notoriously lazy. I will think about this one. HTH

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Oh land thanks for warning. Could pass him the wireless controller though.

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Seems the cuteness hides a sinister side. Maybe Call of Duty would be a better game, allow him to let go a bit of anger.

[GetOrfOhSodOff]

I remember when dd was little in a pushchair a squirrel looked at me with intent and I ran like the clappers out of the park, dd giggling.

They kill trees on purpose.

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Intent GetOrf? To do what, child snatch?!? That's upping the game from a bit of cable nibbling.

[whyayepetal]

Thanks so much for this thread Three - really cheering me up after a bad start to the day

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Sorry to hear that why, but glad I/squig could help.

[GetOrfOhSodOff]

Intent to come and get me.

Like the evil rabbits in Watership down. It had that look in his eye.

[reelingintheyears]

I chase the dog with the lawn mower and she attacks it, worthy of You've been framed it is.
She grabs it with her teeth and tries to shake it.

Squizzels are ok, intelligent critters.

Not like my dog who is pretty stoopid and is currently having yet another phantom pregnancy.

[GetOrfOhSodOff]

Oh bless her with the phantom pregnancy. Is it quite amusing when dogs do that?

[kelper]

We used to have a squirrel that came up to the patio doors. Unfortunately we also had a full grown iguana, and Cyril came face to face with Iggy one day. That was 8 years ago, and we've only just started getting squirrels back in the garden!

[landoflostcontent]

Squizzels are indeed intelligent critters. The wireless controller could be an interesting experiment but am uneasy about it. The park incidents have called to mind a number of other squirrel related incidents, one involving some bloodshed (don't worry, no squirrels were harmed) and one involving an oven that had to be dismantled to remove a particularly obtuse squirrel. I think this is more widespread than we first thought...

I wonder if the cat was doing it on purpose to amuse itself and to wind you up? I have no advice re the lawnmower attacking dog...

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

This is what he'll be thinking if you let him in the house

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Ha Say! Don't think I'll be letting him in, but I've caught them trying the handle of the doors a few times so I might not have a choice once they get their little heads around the lock.

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Oh and this cat. It looked royally fecked off, like it was a HUGE effort to shift its arse every time. If it had just applied a little logic to what was going on, it could have saved itself a lot of bother. Is that too much to ask really.

[landoflostcontent]

Brilliant Say - definitely not to be encouraged indoors although if they are trying door handles it may already be too late Kelper,s solution, while splendidly effective, may not be practical for everyone.

Just remember, when the squirrels take over you read it here first!

Still not sure about the cat, they are mostly very intelligent but I did have a somewhat cerebrally challenged tortoiseshell cat that would sit for ages scratching at the door to be let through. This was a sliding door - the door was open - it was very annoying!

[Sparklingbrook]

Can I complain about the foxes then?

They come for supper every night, usually we see them and we take the plastic trays away when they have been. Last night we went to bed before they had been. This morning they had eaten everything and taken the trays.

[Pennyacrossthehall]

Thus thread reminded me of this story - a must read.

lifeisaroad.com/stories/2004/10/29/neighborhoodHazardorWhyTheCopsWontPatrolBriceStreet.html

[ThreeInEachLobe]

Sorry sparkling - these foxes. Where are the plastic trays?? If inside your house, blimey. And I wonder what they do with the trays.

And do they ever look like they fancy a go on minecraft?

[Sparklingbrook]

They are the meat trays you get in the supermarket, and they are on the patio. I think they must be using them for something.

We tend to be watching the TV when they come but they don't seem fussed.

Last year I chucked a couple of stale biscuits out for the birds, then looked up and a Squirrel was sat there nibbling on ti. it was a custard cream.

[FortyDoorsToNowhere]

This thread has had me in tears.

He secretly thinks you should play conker the squirrel.