The other night, I was sitting on our porch with my little black cat, Magic, sitting on my lap.  Now you must understand, I am only recently a “cat person”, and that by no choice of my own.  You see, when a cat chooses you, you are well and truly chosen.

Well, I digress.  Magic and I were sitting there in the dark of the Ozark mountains, enjoying the sounds of an early fall night.  A cricket was playing his fiddle; the old whippoorwill down the road was giving a holler every so often, albeit a bit off key.  A soft breeze moved the chimes just enough to give a little song from time to time.

Suddenly, as Magic’s purr reached a perfect pitch, I heard a low growl to my far left; at the same moment, I saw a pair of yellow eyes glowing in the dark.  Like a flash, Magic was off my lap and heading in the opposite direction.  Just as quickly as I could, I leaped from my comfy chair and hurried to turn the porch light on.  As the light flashed on, I watched a grey form, a shadow really, move from right next to the porch, back into the tree line.

It took me a moment to realize that our visitor was apparently a big old coyote.  I assume that he planned on having black cat for his supper!  Thankfully she was a quick mover, and I was about as fast!

He had to melt into the woods hungry that night.  Now, to be sure, he may return, but we will be ready, and it is for certain sure that my little kitty will be aware if that wily old coyote is in the area.  She is a quick study for sure!

I’m rather glad that it only took a minute for that little cat to be on guard, and to take the leap to safety that we both needed.  There are those who say a coyote won’t attack unless provoked, but I sure don’t want to test that theory any time soon!