Yeah, folks are tough in Jersey

Even the cats are tough

Here at Five O’Clock Somewhere, our cats are indoor-only. There are far too many critters out there who would consider Dulce and Tres a nice lunch (although Tres is more bones than anything else; at least he seems to be taking well to his new medicine). One category of critter we worry about is bears.

However, at least one cat in New Jersey isn’t the least bit worried about bears – he chases them up trees!

Here is the story, as reported in the Associated Press:

Jack the cat chases black bear up tree

WEST MILFORD, N.J. - A black bear picked the wrong yard for a jaunt, running into a territorial tabby who ran the furry beast up a tree — twice.

Jack, a 15-pound orange and white cat, keeps a close vigil on his property, often chasing small animals, but his owners and neighbors say his latest escapade was surprising.

"We used to joke, 'Jack's on duty,' never knowing he'd go after a bear," owner Donna Dickey told The Star-Ledger of Newark for Friday's editions.

Neighbor Suzanne Giovanetti first spotted Jack's accomplishment after her husband saw a bear climb a tree on the edge of their northern New Jersey property on Sunday. Giovanetti thought Jack was simply looking up at the bear, but soon realized the much larger animal was afraid of the hissing cat.

After about 15 minutes, the bear descended and tried to run away, but Jack chased it up another tree.

Dickey, who feared for her cat, then called Jack home and the bear scurried back to the woods.

"He doesn't want anybody in his yard," Dickey said.

Bear sightings are not unusual in West Milford, which experts consider one of the state's most bear-populated areas.

To go to the article itself, and to see pictures, including a slideshow, click here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060610/ap_on_fe_st/cat_scares_bear

Yeah, I’ve always known our Jersey friend Tillerman is a tough guy – he sails a Laser in conditions that make many keelboat skippers quail. You don’t want to tangle with him, and you don’t want to tangle with any Jersey kitties who might cross your path. That sweet-looking tabby just might be gunning for bear.