A cat's life

She sits gazing into the glowing fire, her eyes screwed up at the brightness. Her paws tucked beneath her chest as she sits almost calm, yet still, so silently aware. This is the creature we mice are trained to fear.

Her delicate black nose and fine little whiskers do not deceive us micefolk... she is the one who can steal life in a heartbeat. Her kind, and our kind have been rivals for centuries; since Tom Cat and his decendents waged war on our cheesemakers in Caerphilly all those years ago. Yet as we walk quietly past this housecat today, in the quiet solitude that the winter weather brings, we are not afraid. For as Saint Nibble assured us, in the words of our Lord:

"Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass by the cat, I'll be with you;

and near their paws, they shall not catch you;

when you fall near the food bowl they shall not see you,
and the cat will not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One, your Saviour,
I gave Saint Nibble for your liberation,

and brought you into safety.

Because you are precious in my eyes,

and honoured, and I love you.
I give edam in return for you,

and fine cheesemakers in exchange for your life.

Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from out of the sofa,

and from the skirting boards I will gather you.
I will say to the kittens 'Give them up'

and to the owls 'Do not withhold;

bring my sons from far away,

and my daughters from the fields -

everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory,

whom I formed, gave squeeks to, and made."

(Saint Nibble's assurance - paraphrased from Isaiah 43:1-7)