An unlikely alliance MY CAT ADOPTED A MAGPIE!

Matt couldn’t believe it when the odd couple started hanging out... or how the pair would ease his grief

- Rebekah Hebenton

It was a regular day for volunteer firefighter Matt Owens as he drove home from visiting a friend and spotted a fluffy little bird on the side of the road. He had no idea when he pulled over to investigate just how special that bird would be.

“I found it was a little baby magpie and she had blood on her and a puncture wound,” recalls Matt. “So, I wrapped her up in a towel and took her home with me.”

His neighbour, a vet, took a look at the injured chick and pronounced that if she made it through the night, she’d be all right – and Matt was thrilled the following morning to find his new rescue, now named Swoop, was indeed alive and well.

His one reservation about inviting Swoop to move in while she recovered was his cat Mogli. But, undeterred, Matt kept Swoop high up on a table away from his four-legged friend and after a week, he was satisfied the friendly feline wasn’t eyeing Swoop up for lunch. It was time the two met.

“I was pretty worried, to be honest,” smiles Matt. “The usual verdict on cats is that they are predatory towards birds, so I was really relieved and surprised when he took to her. It didn’t take long for them to hang out with each other and I’d often snap them cuddling on the couch, fast asleep.”

As Swoop recovered, Matt started training her. He taught her how to forage for bugs in the garden and slowly helped her build her confidence in flying.