A couple of nights ago, we decided to turn off the air-conditioning and open the windows since the nights were getting cooler. Of course, Tabby and Reina are fascinated by the great outdoors and always perch themselves on the ledge when the bedroom window is open. I was watching the telly and Mitzi was in the kitchen. All of a sudden, we hear a great commotion in the bedroom (hissing, spitting, etc.) followed by two streaks (one orange and the other black and white) racing down the hall into the living room. 'Uh-oh...one of 'em's gone postal,' I thinks to myself. I get up and find both of them cowering behind a chair... and Tabby's tail is mega-fluffed out! Looked like a little orange raccoon tail!! Both backs are arched and they're in the classic feline defensive pose (sideways with those nasty little claws ready to strike!). I go back to the window, look out, and see nothing. Figured a possum or something similar wandered by the window and frightened the gang. Got 'em settled down and the rest of the night passed without another incident.

Coming home from work this morning though, and I think I figured out what gave them such a fright. I was pulling into my driveway when I see three deer in our front yard. A Momma and her two little ones (I'm not a deerologist but a Momma deer can have two, right?). Of course, the deer left when they spied my headlights... but it was still pretty cool to see them. Anyway, I figured that these big hairy beasts ran pass the window the other night and Tabby and Reina probably figured they were giant dogs.

Copyright © Roger Hooker
August 27, 2001