Were those screeching cats... or what?

[Art_from_Ark]

The other night as I was relaxing in the tub (and quite sober, I might add), I suddenly heard what at first sounded like cats getting into an argument. But it seemed that one of the cats sounded eerily... human. Almost like a little child, maybe 3 or 4 years old, screaming and crying. And at one point during the "argument", I could swear that I heard one of the... cats... yell "Kowai!", which in this part of the world can mean "I'm scared!" I opened the window of the bath, which provides a view of the street outside, but could not see anything, and the noises seemed to subside. Then I closed the window, and the noises started again, so I was about to get dressed and run outside to see if a child was there, but then the noises stopped for good.

I'm wondering now if cats were the "banshees" of Irish folklore?

[Arkansas Granny]

1. Years ago I heard a small child behind my house.

It's was crying "Momma, Momma" and sounded very scared and upset. I grabbed a flashlight and ran out to get this child, but all I found was a Siamese tomcat who was, apparently, calling for his lady love.

[Art_from_Ark]

4. Those darn cats!

They really know how to fake people out!

[pinboy3niner]

2. When I investigated the loud nighttime screeching I heard, it turned out to be raccoons mating

I kind of felt bad for intruding and causing raccoonus interruptus.

[Art_from_Ark]

3. Well there are no *raccoons* around here

but there are some *raccoon dogs* (aka tanukis). I've never known them to be screechers, though

Raccoonus interruptus