I am ever amazed at the intiution of cats.  It seems that they can
tell, even before the "d" thing, when someone is going to come to the
house.  I can tell by watching their reactions, whether it is a known
person or salesman (of goods or religion).  I am even more amazed at
the intelligence of Li'l Bit (the stray that had her kittens here).

I was sitting at my computer, having let Li'l Bit (and her li'l
bitties) out to roam the house for several hours (she fights with
Smokie and Barnabus and Leonidas and she'd fight with Tuppence if Tupp
would let her).

I hear a growl, a low hiss, and a swat.

I think... Oh, Bit is keeping her kits in line.  I look around, there
are the kits (the 4 remaining) and none are behind me.  I figure that
whichever beast it was had run to his/her littermates for
commisseration.

I hear the growl, hiss and swat again.  I turn around, and LB is
hunkered down, fur down the middle of her back standing on end (so she
looks for all the world like a razorback!).  I see her swat at
something.

I reach down to stroke her side, the whole while saying there is
nothing there sweet thing.  She jumps a bit when I touch her, but
doesn't attempt to strike me.

She draws her paw back (attention back on whatever it is) and swats
while I watch, all the while growling.  I begin to wonder what the heck
has got into the house that has her so "up in arms" (as it were).

I look under the credenza and see the power cord to oscillating fan.  I
think, "Ah ha!  She thinks it is a snake" (we've caught a couple in the
house, grass snakes).  I reach down to the cord, to show her it isn't a
snake.  I feel a light tingle in my fingers, and immediately think
pinched nerve, except that it doesn't stop.

Now, this fan is only about a year old, and I had noticed over the last
day or two that it would suddenly stop working.  I'd turn it off and
back on and it'd be fine.  Figured it just needed cleaning, and was
going to ask DH to do that tomorrow (well, yesterday actually but that
didn't work out).

Odd, I think, I wonder what...  Hmmm, better unplug the thing, just in
case.  I get it unplugged, and to test my pinched nerve theory...  I
grab the cord again (the whole while, LB is trying with all her might
to swat the cord and protect the crazy lady who took her in in her time
of need).  Nothing.

I sit down, and stretch like I had the first time (thinking that maybe
it had to do with sitting)...  Nothing...

Guess there must have been a short in the cord, and Li'l Bit was just
trying to keep the crazy lady safe.  I wonder, do you think that cats
have a higher sensitivity to things of that sort?

The fan is now sitting in the trash pile (well, next to the garbage
pail, actually), and DH and I will be getting a new oscillating fan
tomorrow (one hopes).

Li'l Bit is getting extra treats for being such a brave and wondrous
cat.

Smokie Darling (Annie)