Duck and cover

I knew it was going to happen ~ one day.
You see our Kitty Kate is not your sweet, cuddly, house decoration cat. She is really in touch with her inner felines. She loves to climb the tree in the back yard and lately she has taken to lounging around under the sunflowers, hiding, watching, waiting for the right moment.
Apparently last night was the right moment, because as my husband and I were settled down watching Big Brother, the Kate dragged it in, “it” being a small, lively bird.
Well, it wasn’t all that lively when she brought it in the basement through the open window that serves as her portal to the outside world. At first it just crumbled in a heap of feathers, twitching while she guarded it.
But before we could gather our wits, the bird gathered its wits and started flying and chirping. It headed for the tacky plastic tree in the corner of the family room, bashing his head on the low ceiling.
Kate was right behind it, tail twitching with pride and glee. I grabbed the cat, who protested mightily, and threw her into a handy closet while husband gave chase.
The bird flew to perch on the shelves above the computer and husband grabbed a blanket. He threw the blanket over the bird and took it to the open window, but tripped over something on the floor and the bird was free again.
The bird headed for the fake tree, the cat scratched and yowled. Then I heard the shower turn off down the hall. Picturing a naked 6-year-old boy in the midst of the excitement I ran down the hall and told him to “stay in the bathroom and get dressed.” You see, the child loves to come out wrapped in a towel to dry off before dressing.
By this time the bird had taken residence behind the unused treadmill I (like most people in America) had purchased in a fit of idealism. This time we were able to move the treadmill, catch the bird and release it to the wild of our backyard, slamming the window behind it.
Kate was indignant when we let her out of the closet. She sniffed around the artificial tree for a few minutes, and then stared out the window with a look of disgust on her face.
I grew up on a ranch; I expect cats to stalk small creatures. But really, I don’t want birds in my basement.