The Maiming of the Shrew

Update on an earlier post about the cats and their wicked hunting ways.

I have finally identified the small, mouse-like creatures that the cats have been dragging in. They are Shrews.

As it gets colder, the shrews must be out in greater numbers foraging for food, or that cats have found the mother lode, because for the last couple of weeks, it has been a near daily occurrence - shrews, both disturbingly dead and disturbingly alive, brought into the house. The other day, I was not quick enough to save one, and by the time I had donned rescue gear, Copernicus had killed it, and consumed the front half. Yes, oh so charming. But it gets worse. Obviously shrews aren't high on his list of preferred delicacies, and a few minutes later, as I was cleaning up the discarded back half of the recently deceased shrew and cursing Copernicus' dastardly cat-like ways, I hear the dreaded retching sound of a cat about to vomit - and up it comes - basically whole, the head of the shrew mixed in with some partially masticated dry cat food, ON THE RUG. Most of our house is floorboards and tiles, but he felt it only right and proper that he disgorge himself on the rug.

Damn his eyes.