JERICHO ECHO ARTICLE
August 1981
The annual general meeting of Jericho cats was convened at midnight in their favourite back yard. Chairman Tom, a handsome, well-built black with aristocratic markings on the throat and sporting a leather collar miaowed the meeting to silence. "If we are II gathered then the meeting can be declared open. Tabby," he turned his whiskers towards the cat on his left watching intently with her amber eyes,"do we have any absentees?"
"Only Siamese from the upper echelons of Jericho," she replied."He informs me that his owner is worried about him mixing with the lesser bred amongst us and is keeping him in at nights. He apologises but says as the cat flap has been blocked up he is unable to slip out." "Poor old Siam. Note his apologies then. Now, the main item on the agenda is the bad feeling that seems to be developing between our fraternity and the human species. It has been noted by several of us that when we venture into our hitherto claimed territory we are being met with hostility in the form of stones and barricades. Not only that, but with the growing season still in full swing we can expect more attempts to curtail our activites in the form of cat pellets and green netting, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find a bare patch of earth in this area."
A general deep-throated growling greeted these opening remarks. Many of those present had experienced the conditions described by Black Tom. "A general concerted attack upon the human species is the answer," rumbled Ginger,well known for his flying claw and paw attacks upon any frail two-legged creature that attempted to move him on. "Hear! Hear.'" Hisses rose from the company "Ginger for leader!"
Black Tom realised the meeting was rapidly moving out of his control.Turning to his ^ueen, a slim half-bred Siamese who had borne him his third litter, he appealed to her for support. With a quiet, exquisitely graceful movement she moved to his side.
The female influence had a calming effect and she proceeded quietly with her remarks. "Friends, I cannot see that we shall make any headway with violence. We depend upon our human owners for food and shelter. If we declare war the end result willbbe totally to our disadvantage. Let us follow our more unnerving policy - that of sitting and staring. We have ancient lore on our side, and what humans call superstition. They are never sure what goes on in our minds when we merely sit in conclave like statues. I suggest that we gather six to ten of us and carry out silent, non-violent protest in the gardens of those humans who are most against us.
"Tried that once," muttered Felix - he had. managed to slip away for th« evening - "and the two-legs turned water OR to me from a black snake-like object. Took me totally by surprise and I was most uncomfortable for some hours afterwards." "We must be prepared for all tactics," agreed Black Tom's consort,"but under all provocation, a non-violent policy would be best in the long term."
"Let's put it to the vote," called a voice from the back of the restless, mewling crowd. General agreement led Black Tom to call for the Yowls and Growls. "Those in favour of Ginger's suggestion, tails erect.' Felix,will you count please," "One hundred and ten." "Those in favour of my consort's idea,tails erect.'" "One hundred and eleven." A furious flying of fur erupted with yelps of "Recount.' Recount.'" Once again the count was taken. "One hundred and ten against one hundred and eleven." "I declare the non-violent policy to be in operation.
Fluff," he said to his eldest son,"organise rotas of names for shifts -two hours each on a twenty-four hour basis." "Yowl, pa," said Fluff, and marched off to carry out his mission. "Meeting to order," called Black Tom above the noise. "We have a policy now - let's at least try it out - any repercussions can be related to the Cats' council on September the twenty-seventh, I now declare this particular meeting closed."
He leapt down and stalked over to his own patch of land. Several cats followed but a large number were gathering around Ginger. Black Tom mewed softly. What would the next i few days bring? He had led the cat fraternity for a long while, but it had only been through general consensus. The test would come now. If only those humans knew what they had started...
Author: Shirley Raynor