TheBanyanTree: Belligerent Divinity

[Sachet]

Ah, so sorry, Tom. That is heartbreaking.

My Tabouli scared me by staying out until 1:30am the night before last. 
I thought either an owl or a bobcat (etc.) had gotten her. She usually 
just chases mice and comes back in after a few hours. After your 
powerful piece and the subsequent explanation, both cats will now remain 
inside. We have a pack of coyotes on a neighboring ridge. I love to hear 
them sing, but I don't want to chance losing one of the cats to them.

Thanks for sharing both the excellent piece and the important insights 
as to why you wrote it.


On 6/24/2013 8:51 PM, Tom Smith wrote:
> As sort of an explanation for this piece..  Maybe I was still
> coming to grips with one of our cats getting the worst of a
> coyote encounter.  So I kind of had pretators on my mind.
> The victim was a pretty aggressive fearless male Tuxedo
> cat who loved to be outside and would raise hell inside till
> "invited out."   We've always had coyotes, and he's always
> been let out when he wanted to go.  Actually, he RAN to the
> front door, and RAN off.  Just like he'd done every morning
> for 5 years.  I figured he was street smart, and knew he
> could climb trees and duck under cars..  but this last time
> he didn't come back.  I found him the next day, and another
> cat victim about 10 ft away.  I considered the possibility of
> a psycho neighbor and called a wildlife specialist, who said
> this [type of coyote feasting]  happens all the time.  This is
> coyote pupping season and statistically the most fatal for
> cats and dogs.  Coyotes can jump 6' high fences.  One got
> in a turkey pen in the rural part of the county and killed 27
> and ate one.
>
> The house is like an echo chamber now.. without echos.
>
> I don't let the other cats out in the wee hours anymore.
>
> Tom
>