It started just as a few tales of odd happenings.  Someone happened to see a cat along the road that wasn't acting normal, someone else noticed a large circle of them sitting together, a cat was seen following someone around all day long, seemingly paying attention to every little thing that person did.  At first it was written off as superstition, a story for the tabloids.  Then one day, a photo of one of these "cats" appeared in the papers, next to a normal feline picture.  There were a few very distinct differences: larger head comparative to the body; longer, thinner toes on the paws; but the most obvious one was the eyes - silver eyes, eyes that seemed to be able to look right through you.
Many people ignored the photo as well, figuring it to be trumped up, computer edited in some way.  Others, however, were intrigued, and began to look into the situation.

It was around the time that the photos appeared in the papers that Tyler first noticed the cat.  A sleek, gray fellow, it seemed to look at him as if it understood exactly what he was thinking.  He thought nothing of it at first, but as time went by, he saw that same cat, seemingly whenever he turned around.  Tyler was a compassionate, if somewhat quiet, person, and he decided that if the cat was going to hang around, he might as well give it a bowl of milk and make friends with it.  The milk was a success, but friendship was not soon forthcoming.  It became a ritual for him to put out a saucer with some milk in it every evening, but no matter how much he called to it, the cat would sit some distance away and simply watch until he returned to the house.

One evening, after yet another unsuccessful attempt at amity, Tyler went into the house, where his television was blaring, as always.  He listened idly as the weatherman finished off his report, and a few news items were presented.  Suddenly something caught his interest.  The news anchor told of a new so-called "evolutionary discovery" in some cats.
"…it appears that these felines have developed with more cranial capacity, allowing for more sophisticated thought processes, as well as paws developed for increased dexterity.  Scientists so far have been unsuccessful in obtaining a live specimen for study.  Dr. Ichobev Drensetski has pronounced this discovery 'the final piece in proving without doubt that Darwin was the most insightful man that ever lived.'"

"In other news, a local woman has claimed to be visited by an angel, fittingly enough, in the form of a cat.  She claims that this feline seraph told her where to find the necklace and locket that she had lost while hiking through the woods.  'I had searched everywhere, and was to the point where I figured God was the only one could help me.  I never would've found that locket if He hadn't sent an angel to me.' The woman stated, almost in tears.

"And now, here's…" Tyler hit the mute button and got up.

"Why in the world were they putting fairy tales like that on the news?" he wondered.  "Those guys must be really reaching for things to talk about."

Satisfied that it was all just a hoax, Tyler wandered into the kitchen to fix himself a snack.

Another day passed, and as night came, Tyler set out the bowl of milk, but this time, as he hesitated before returning inside, the cat slowly moved toward him.  It came to the saucer and bent its head down, and slowly Tyler reached out to pet it.  He jerked back as soon as he made contact, however, as he felt a jolt of electricity go through his hand.  Shocked and puzzled, he looked at his hand, and as he did so, he heard a quiet voice say, "I am sorry." Tyler looked around, but all he saw was the cat lowering its head once again to lap at the milk.

Unable to explain what had just occurred, Tyler went inside and tried to forget the whole experience.  He sat down in front of the TV and watched a show about counterfeiting, followed by the evening news.  Once again, one of the news items caught his attention.  The angel cat phenomena had spread, the anchor announced.  Some people claimed that this was the sign that the time for revival had come.  Never before had so many appearances been noted so close together.

Tyler pondered this situation for a bit, then went to the back door.  After standing there for some time with his hand on the latch, he opened the door and sat down on the stoop.  As he had expected, the cat was sitting a few feet away, staring straight at him.  Tyler stared back.

"Well, kitty, I sure don't know what to think about all this stuff.  Perhaps I imagined that bit about you shocking me, but they're talking about cats all over the news too… I dunno."

"Thank you for your kindness, Tyler."

Tyler looked up.  "So you CAN talk.  What in the world is going on here?"

"Technically," said the cat, "we are not from this world.  However, your planet was chosen as one to build a colony upon."

"Whoa, wait, you mean to say you're an alien?  So that evolved cat stuff…"

"We found it quite interesting that your world contained creatures so similar to us.  We were disappointed to learn that they were not the dominant species on the planet.  Your species is fascinating as well, however, and we have already begun our studies of you, some of which should be evident in my ability to converse with you."

"So you've learned our language already just by watching us… and we humans haven't even figured out that you're here yet?"

"Yes, so far that is the case.  However, it appears that some of your species have begun to notice us, as an anomaly of sorts.  We had hoped, especially once we had discovered your native 'cats,' that we could blend in and live without affecting your species in any way.  Obviously that is impossible, so now we must find a way to peacefully explain our motives and integrate our species with yours."

"So, exactly why're you telling me?" Tyler asked.

The creature stared at him thoughtfully for a bit, and then spoke again.  "You are the one that we have decided can best help us.  We do not understand fully the workings of your society, and we need help from a native to make our case known.  What do you say to that, Tyler? Will you help us?"

Tyler pondered for a while, trying to take all of this in.  "So you think that I understand how things work in this society any more than you do?" He asked.  "Ok, ok, I can see your plight, and I guess you could use my help.  Sure, I'll see what I can do."

After a bit more discussion, Tyler returned inside.  He had no idea what he was supposed to do.  As he always did in such a case, and in most other cases besides, Tyler sat down in front of the television.  At first he thought his problem was solved.  The first phrase he heard was "aliens in the form of cats."  His hopes were quickly flattened when he realized the context, however.  Someone somewhere had gotten just close enough to the truth to be dangerous with it.  The idea of aliens on earth had planted itself in many minds, and was already growing out of control.  Already some people were convinced that the earth was under attack, and that within the year we would be involved in an all-out intergalactic war.

Tyler got up and grabbed the phone.  After searching through the phone book, he called the city mayor, and left a message with his secretary saying that he had information on the cat-like creatures, that they had no evil intents, and that something needed to be done immediately.

Next Tyler called the local TV station.  "Yes, can I speak to someone in charge of the cat story?"  After convincing the person on the other end of the line that he really was legitimate and not a total crackpot, he agreed to meet the next day for a talk over lunch.

The following morning, Tyler drove into town to meet with the reporter.  Along the way he happened to notice more roadkill than usual, although he thought that perhaps he was simply more attuned to such things because of recent events.  As he came close to the restaurant he changed his mind, when, driving along a residential street, he saw a man walking with a dead cat in one hand and a baseball bat in the other.  Shaken, Tyler sped up, more determined than ever to spread the news as soon as he could.

At the restaurant, the reporter and he exchanged pleasantries, then got down to business.  Tyler explained what had happened to him, and asked for advice as to what he should do.  He told of the scene he had witnessed earlier, and the reporter shook her head.

"That is one of many such cases," she said.  "This whole scene has spread totally out of control.  In some areas, the Angel groups, those that claim to have seen visions, are teaming up with the cat lovers and are creating 'feline sanctuaries,' taking in as many cats as they can find.  Scientists are trying to stop the slaughter as well, but they hope to obtain as many of the creatures, aliens as you say, as they can in order to experiment on them.  They are meeting resistance from the shelters, too, as you can imagine.  It's as if the whole area has gone crazy."  She shook her head again, then continued.  "I'll get this out as soon as possible, and make it as convincing as I can, but I'm afraid that we've already done some irreparable damage.  Thank you, Tyler. I hope somehow this gets under control soon."

Tyler returned home, feeling more depressed than ever.  As soon as he got out of his car, he jogged around to the back porch, to see if his friend was there.  It was obvious that the cat was waiting for him to come, and Tyler could detect sadness in the large, silver eyes.

"Things are looking grim." The creature said.  "Have you any good tidings?"

"The true story is going to be broadcast as soon as possible, but there's no telling who will believe it.  The panic has already spread so far…" Tyler trailed off, unsure of what else to say.

"We had no idea that your species was so uncivilized.  To be so advanced and yet, so hostile, so quick to suspicion.  It is unthinkable.  So far, only a few of our kind have been killed, but so many of your own pets, killed for no reason at all.  None of us knows what to think."

Just then, Tyler heard the phone ring inside.   He excused himself and rushed in to grab it.  It was the mayor.

"Is there anything that you can do to help us in this, Mr.…"

"You can call me Tyler.  Actually, I was going to ask your advice, sir.  I've been in contact with one of these guys, and they are actually friendly, peaceful aliens. They-"

"You've TALKED with them?  I thought they were just mutated cats!"

"No sir, they are from another planet, and they are hoping to relocate here, to form a colony.  That probably won't happen while there are people trying desperately to kill them, though.  We need to stop all of this."

"Well, I'd have to agree with that, but I don't know what to do.  I talked with the governor and he's planning on sending in state troops to keep the peace."

"But that will just add to the chaos, won't it?" Asked Tyler.

"We've got to do something, and that seems to be the best option right now."

Tyler gave up.  It seemed there was nothing he could do. After hanging up the phone, he went back outside to talk some more with the cat, or alien, or whatever it was, but it was nowhere to be seen, so he returned inside and got ready for bed.

By the next day, things were worse.  There was rioting and fights between the military and the bloodthirsty mobs, as well as some bitter arguing and also a little violence toward the troops from the protectors, who saw both groups as an equal threat.  The disturbances caused so much trouble that the President proclaimed a national crisis, and the whole country ground to a halt.

After watching with horror as each new scene unfolded itself on the television screen, Tyler finally got fed up and went out onto the back porch in the hopes that his friend would still be around, and not caught in the violence.  He hadn't waited there long, when a gray figure came padding toward him.

"I have come to say goodbye, my friend.  At first this planet seemed ideal, with its wonderful ecosystem, the perfect air composition, even creatures quite similar to ourselves.  When we discovered that your species was the race of sentients, and saw all of the progress that you were making in your technology, some of us even treasured the chance to get to know you, to learn from you and also to teach you.  Now, too late, we have realized our mistake.  You are a very advanced race, it is true, but you are also a very uncivilized race.  Never would we have imagined such a combination.  And so we were not prepared.  Now, the decision has been made, we will journey on, in search of another planet on which to form our colony.  Your planet will be marked on our maps, as one unfit for life."  Here the creature paused for a bit, and looked at Tyler once again with its penetrating eyes.

"I am sorry to leave you so quickly.  You are not like the majority of this planet, and I have come to enjoy your company.  However, there is nothing we can do.  The chaos is spreading, if we do not leave soon they will find our hiding place and we will never get away."  Even as he spoke, Tyler could hear loud voices from down the street.

"Goodbye, my friend," the creature said, in little more than a whisper.

"Farewell," Tyler replied.  The alien gave a curious wave with his paw, then turned and ran off into the woods.  Tyler sat on the step for a while then went inside and sat down on the couch.  A second later he arose again, and going to the television, which was still spouting scenes of horror, he pulled the plug from the wall.