Cats and spiders

Occasionally our cats can be seen concentrating intently on a scuttling spider. They sniff and pat and jump back having been bitten on the nose then return to the hunt. As we don't have extremely venomous arachnids in Great Britain, the cats are usually victorious. Generally, they don't eat spiders, just chew them up and spit them out.

Several times a day I tidy up the cat litter box. It keeps it clean, for cats are fastidious creatures and, more importantly, it stops the dogs sampling what they seem to think are tasty snacks. (I've heard them referred to as 'kitty croquettes') Even though our cats are fed a mainly raw diet, with only occasional commercial 'treats' so that there is very little waste, I still prefer to keep temptation at bay by removing potential tit-bits.

Every time I've removed clumps during the last two or three days a medium-sized spider has hurried under the retaining rim of the litter tray. The cats don't appear to have seen it or maybe they've had more pressing demands on their attention. I don't like spiders, although I know they're a force for good – they make me shudder. I wonder if I'd find them less repellent if they were pastel-coloured and moved gracefully. Notwithstanding, I must respect any creature that will spend its time in a cat litter tray, facing danger every time a feline paw comes near. I'm sure it remains there through choice – perhaps it is making its own contribution to the cleanliness of the litter, eating microbes, since there are no flies within shouting distance.