Usually, after a brief check, the gang returns and hangs around the kitchen for breakfast. Today, though, they're staying outside. Something has caught their attention. Until they figure out if it's something to eat, play with or avoid, they're transfixed.

That "something" is pushing itself under the gate. Dark and thin, it waves back and forth. Angel is the first to understand. With a hiss, she races back inside, her tail bushed out. Yoyo's a bit slower. He recognises Angel's anxiety, but he needs more information.

Slowly, he approaches the waving "thing". Suddenly, there's a breathy "Oof!", Yoyo jumps vertically, twists his body around in mid-air and hits the ground running. He still hasn't figured out what it is, but he wants to make his assessment little bit further away.

The rest of the cats now know what's going on, and from the safety of the doorway, they wait, eyes wide and tails bushy.

That "something" is, of course, Top Dog, the lovely shepherd mix who leads the canine pack on the soi. Now he wants to have a cat for breakfast. The edge of my gate is too low for him to do much more than to squeeze a few inches of a forepaw under it, but he remains ever hopeful.

Then he begins howling. Angel hisses and disappears to the second floor. As a former stray, she must have met dogs in her childhood, but Yoyo, born in a cattery, never has. He senses he should be careful, but he can't help himself.

Slowly he begins approaching that waving forepaw. Top Dog sees the cat through cracks in the gate and pushes against it. Yoyo makes another aerial twist and heads back to the doorway.

What a disappointment Top Dog has turned out to be! Why has it taken him so many months to sense that cats live in my house? He's not much of a guard dog, not at all what the neighbours advertised. They told me how well he guards the soi, but they're mistaken. The noisy little Pomeranian next door is much more sensitive to what's going on in her house and on her soi.

Top Dog howls at other dogs - and at cats too, apparently. He also howls at passersby, but only when he's behind the gate of his own house, and, so far, only during the day.

Yet he continues to enjoy respect. His reputation remains irreproachable. When he's out on the soi, people watch him with care, as if he's already dismantled a miscreant. So far, there have been no burglars on our soi.

As for our present situation, a neighbour finally leans over her balcony and yells at Top Dog: "Go home! Now!" He obediently retreats to his house. As soon as he leaves, Yoyo strides over to the gate and snarls, as in: "Took care of that dog, didn't I?"

By Laurie rosenthal