Tonight I left the front door open so the cats could watch the outside world through the glass storm door for awhile. (We call it cat television in our house.) As the cats hunkered down and I tidied up around the living room, I heard the sharp, alarmed chirp of a robin outside. Repeatedly. I glanced over and saw a robin in the yard, seemingly staring Murphy and Violet down and sounding a predator alarm. Well aren’t you just a little trash-talking tough guy, I thought to myself. But when this went on for what seemed like a really long time, I walked over to see what was going on.

Turns out the trash-talking tough guy was a mama bird protecting her offspring who was hanging out on my front porch. And she was not happy to have two cats nearby. At all.

Hello, little one.

I quickly took a few photos of the baby through the glass. But I didn’t want mama to be so distressed, so I gently shuffled the cats out of the way and closed the door.

Oh, mama. I can so relate. It’s tough to stand by and watch your babies grow up – especially when you want nothing more than to protect them. But based on the little sass-face your baby gave me, I think he’s gonna be just fine.