Magpie versus The Cat

[runnerbean]

On my way home today, I have to pass a little wild patch, past my bus stop, and a Magpie was taking on a cat, and I was so amazed I had to stand and stare, and after about 5 minutes the Magpie had made this cat walk backwards until it turn tailed and slunk off, has anyone seen this before?

[cajary]

There's a good chance that the cat wasn't hungry and was just practising. It's the same when they catch mice etc. and don't kill them. I've seen my cat chase a mouse all over the place and when it got into a "kill" position, just walk away. Depends on how they feel. Fascinating creatures, are cats

[Nicos]

A few weeks ago a magpie tried to nick a mouse off one of our cats whilst he was tormenting the poor little thing!
The magpie grabbed the mouse and started to fly off when our cat jumped in the air to snatch it back.As he did so, the magpie squalked (dropping the mouse) and the mouse legged it off and escaped.

[runnerbean]

Lucky Mouse!

[cajary]

I think it's the same sort of thing as when cheetahs walk through a herd of Thompson's gazelles and none of them run away. Animals, I believe, know when it's serious and when it's not.