Kitty takes over the scene

There has been a critter shakeup in my neighborhood.

After years of rabbits, squirrels and birds dominating the scene, a newcomer — Kitty, as my neighbor calls her — is in charge. Kitty is a semi-friendly, wild gray tabby whose markings make her look like a cheetah. She'll let you pet her if you're calm and offer her a treat.

But if you're non-human, watch out. Kitty is a killer. At one neighbor's house, rabbit pelts are showing up. At another house, squirrel tails are the prizes left behind.

My two cats have spent years watching the squirrels and rabbits with interest. Those days are gone. I'm not sure if they have spotted Kitty yet. She seems pretty good at concealing her movements.

The same cannot be said for "Whitey," another cat — presumably a tom — seen sometimes prowling the area. One night he came to our front door, which is glass and not screened. My "clown brothers" like to look out the door at night. On this particular night, there was lots of yowling and a few hisses. That will get your attention. Whitey ran off when I walked to the door. Perhaps he had to report to Miss Kitty about the two fat cats in the white house who never come out to play ... or kill rabbits as the case may be.