Pictured: The astonishing moment an owl snatched up a full-grown cat for a 'light' meal

In the famous poem by Edward Lear the owl and the pussy cat marry and dance by the light of the moon.



But as this amazing photo shows, the love and affection expressed by the pair in their beautiful pea green boat does not extend to the battle of survival in the wilds of Minnesota.



This brazen barred owl is pictured grabbing the hapless domestic cat after swooping out of the darkness in a surprise attack.



Big appetite: Swooping in, an owl is caught wide-eyed clutching a domestic cat in its talons as seen in this photo taken in Minnesota

According to nature experts in the U.S., the owl - which is easily identified by its evening call that sounds like ‘Who cooks for you! Who cooks for you!’ – repeatedly drops its oversized prey from high up in attempt to stun it into submission.



It then devours its meal - with not one of Lear’s famous ‘runcible’ spoon’s in sight.

The owl is known by other names, including Eight Hooter, Rain Owl, Wood Owl, and Striped Owl.



But it is probably best known as the Hoot Owl based on its distinctive, culinary call which is repeated eight times in sequence.

Make believe: Seated in a row boat, poem The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear contrast a friendly pair of newly weds basking in the light of the moon

Up to 25 inches in height and with a maximum wingspan of 50 inches, the owl possesses amazing strength for its modest size, and is able to tackle victims weighting far more than its svelte 2.3 lbs.



Cats are something of a special treat for the opportunistic predator, which has a varied menu, preying on mice, shrews, rats, squirrels, rabbits, mink and weasels - as well as birds including woodpeckers, grouse and even fish, turtles, lizards and scorpions.

