I don't know why, but the last 2 times in as many days that I've tried to respond on this thread, my comment has just disappeared into the Bermuda Triangle or something. Today, from inside my house, I heard the same screaming. Stepping out on my front walk, I could tell it was up in my pine tree. Look as I might, I could not see the hawk, but there was a ton of noise and commotion up there. I think I saw some grackles and some bluejays hoppping around, and I still wasn't positive there was even a hawk up there, despite the screams (not being a bird expert, I don't know the calls for certain). I thought maybe it was the blue jays screaming. This time I had the camera. i took a step onto the grass under the trees to aim for a better vantage point, but before I could do anything else, a HUGE (wide wingspan) bird flapped out of the tree, away from me and my house, and flew off into the distance. With him flew at least two smaller birds (same as last time). He didn't seem to be chased by them. They seemed to be companions? wingmen? LOL I dont' know. Anyway, I stupidly was trying to turn on my camera although it was already on and I didn't get a picture. I'm marvelling at the fact that this large bird can hide itself in the trees so well. This is the second time I was certain of it's location in a particular tree but still could not see it. Anyway, I think it's pretty cool!

NJTea: I live in zone 7 Maryland, and we haven't had any great amount of snow here, this Winter. Nevertheless, from my experience, just about any raptor will eat roadkill when hungry--at any time of year. Fresh killed roadkill is just an easy meal. To cite a few observances of mine: Traveling from Los Angeles to San Diego in the wee hours of the morning (about 30 years ago), in the middle of Summer, I rounded a bend on the freeway approaching San Diego, just after daybreak, and almost hit a Golden Eagle as it flew off a squashed Jackrabbit in the middle of a southbound lane. (I might also add that 30 minutes prior, I had to brake for about 6 Mexican (obviously illegal) aliens running across the freeway in front of me, right before dawn--not an uncommon sight in that area, in those days.) A few years ago, on a country road in Virginia in early Spring, I noticed in a powerline right-of-way, about 30 yards from the road, a Buzzard (Turkey Vulture) eating on a dead Cottontail Rabbit, while a Red Tail Hawk and a Crow, waited no more than 15-20 feet away, for their turn. I have no idea if the Hawk had killed the rabbit there, or it was struck by a car on the road and dragged itself there. It was the most unusual sight--for me--as I had never seen 3 different predatory birds (albeit, one, a scavenger) at a single rabbit carcass, in my life. (The following not about road-kill, but about gun-kill): A farmer friend in Virginia has a dove-hunt at his farm each year, on the first day of Dove season (which I believe is September 1), and invites about 40 of his friends to participate. Wheat or oats or rye, etc., are bush-hogged (cut) a week before the season, and the grain scattered, usually where power lines cross the field (a natural flyway for doves). Doves come to this scattered grain, and are shot by camouflaged hunters situated around the edges of the fields. Though the hunters attempt to find all the birds they shoot (they cook and eat the breasts), they invariably don't find them all. I have seen hawks--varying in size from Kestrals (though usually larger) to Red Tails--hovering, then landing on, or near the dead doves, and eating them--many times while the hunters are still shooting. As dangerous a situation as it is for them, It's just too easy a meal to pass up. I could quote any number of other examples of raptors on road-or-otherwise-killed animals; but I must say that I don't believe I have seen one on an animal as large as a deer (except Turkey Vultures). That was a nice sighting, Richard (and others, who have seen such things). As was mentioned, hunger is responsible for strange occurrences.

Thank you. I will try the steamy shower thing tonight. I didnt think he was better yesterday. He didnt want to eat or drink. I did get him to eat a little by syringe feeding him. Luckily he started out weighing over 15 pounds so he wasnt a skinny minny to begin with. This morning I woke up and there was a fresh pee spot in the litter box and the cat was back laying down on his blanket. So that was a good sign! My husband brought him to the vet today and she was pleased with how he looked. She was able to massage his foot/joint and commented how 2 days ago he wouldnt even let her touch it. She didnt insist on doing full blood work, but she mentioned it and my husband figured we are in this almost $1,000 already so we might as well. He tested negative for feline leukemia and for something else too, but he didnt remember what. So pretty much we arent sure whats wrong with his paw. She thinks he could just have gotten an infection there, and then the URI flared up because he was stressed out. He's anemic she said, but i guess that doesnt mean the same thing for cats as it does for humans. Overall his bloodwork was good. She thinks he will get better and once he can smell again he should eat. I forgot to mention that he did drink from the regular water bowl this morning too! I am happy he seems to be doing better but I will be happier when he starts eating on his own.

Before we remodel we struggled w/ this issue. In the end we made a bigger investment so that we could eat at a table & have an island. I am very glad we did. I almost always choose to have our family dinner at the table-- it seems so much more civilized and relaxed and an improtant time for our family of four to be/dine together -- which is only 3-4 times a week. When we sit at the table there have been so many improtant discussions that take place. They are critcal teaching moments for our teenage children. Also I am a stickler for table manners & it is hard to do that the island. Lunch & Breakfast happens at the island. FYI- We increased the kitchen floor plan byremoving diningroom wall & absorbing that space into our kichen plan. The dining room furniture then moved to share space with our oversized living room. Two years later- I am sooo happy we did this.