The Battle of the Black Cat

We’ve been visited by a long haired black cat for quite a few weeks now. I think he is a stray and I know he’s been sleeping in the summerhouse because I’ve seen him there. What’s more the towelling covers on the chairs are bestrewn with dirty long black furs and some drops of blood!  Tigger is more than a bit put out by this as he likes to sleep up there during the day and, as the saying goes, "this town ain’t big enough for the both of us”. Also I’d put some kibble up there just in case Black (or anyone else) was peckish.

I’ve not seen Austin in the vicinity of Black -- not until this evening that is!

There was caterwauling of spine chilling intensity coming from the back garden. Not unusual, but this one sounded like the fat lady was finally singing! Rushed to window. There was Tigger with his back to me and Black creeping away from him up the grass. Suddenly Austin leapt out of the bushes screaming like a banshee. Fur and claws everywhere! Black on top, then Austin on top, then Black on top, then Black on top, then …….. Tigger, realising his buddy was under some stress went to help. He approached from behind. Black skewed round, biffed Tigger on the nose, Austin recovered and attacked from the rear. They moved together in a co-ordinated pincer movement worthy of Monty at El Alamein. Black, realising he was strategically outmanoeuvred, beat a hasty and rather undignified retreat. The boys were triumphant!

State of play now. Tigger is having a debriefing in Austin’s food bowl and Austin is over the way terrorising some very small wild animals. Life goes on!

Of course I was nowhere near a camera, so sadly there are no pictures of the Battle of the Black Cat.