At 2:00 a.m. this morning, I woke up to Magoo and Ashley both on the bed, frantically pawing at me. For both of them to be up there at the same time is quite rare. They are very sensitive and will alert me to any insect intruders or other prey that might be in the house. After examining the bedroom and finding nothing, I continued my patrol of the house.

In the living room, they were both pacing in front of the door, so I cautiously opened it up activating the motion detector lights in the yard. I heard Bentley growling, before I actually saw him. He was tucked under the ramp leading to the front door. His head was out and he was getting ready to attack whatever he felt was threatening to him.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see this black streak run out from  under the ramp and fly across the highway! Thank God at that moment there was no traffic. The way the creature moved, I knew it was a black cat. We already have Goblin living near the back pasture. I feed him by the creek daily. He’s getting a bit bolder, but will still flee and hide under the junk cars my neighbor parks on his back pastureland. I know this was not Goblin. This kitty was smaller and faster.

The fact that it is crossing a busy highway at night concerns me. Not many visitors from across the road live very long when they make such a hazardous journey. I think, for the time being, I will put Bentley in one of the enclosures at night and let him out in the morning. I would hate to have him dash across the highway in pursuit of this new kitty. Bent is my strongest Alpha.

I will put traps out tomorrow at dusk in the front yard and pray this new kitty will go into the trap overnight. I hope not to catch one of the baby coons (there are only two left out of the five) or God forbid one of momma skunks babies or the mom herself. It’s a gamble but not as big of a gamble as this kitty is taking, running across the highway to my home in search of food. Wish me luck-