Chaos, loud shouting, scrabbling under the bed with walking sticks and general jumping about at last persuaded the combatants to take their differences outside, and I could at last gratefully close the door on the ensuing mayhem outside in the courtyard. Even as I write this, a sound like wild elephants stampeding is emanating from the roof above my head. Upon investigation I see green feral eyes gazing down upon me, and much licking of lips. Whatever it was, it is no more. One would think that the perpetrator of all this would be a wild uncontrollable savage with gore dripping from slavering jaws and claws.
Appearances are deceptive.
Miss Chiff is a small female tabby, of demure expression, elegant manners and sober habits. Butter, as they say, would not melt in her mouth. But a clear case where the female of the species is definitely deadlier. One would think that we were deliberately starving the poor creature. But she actually belongs to the people across the road.