Cats Chef
📖 Table of Content:
In Belden, Mississippi, a quiet suburb near Tupelo, a late-night burglary attempt might have turned tragic — if not for the swift and surprising actions of a calico cat named Bandit.
Her owner, Fred Everitt, a 68-year-old retired oral surgeon, never expected that the small rescue cat he adopted years earlier would become his greatest protector. But on the night of July 25, Bandit proved that even the most unassuming pets can rise to the occasion when danger strikes.
It was around 2:30 a.m. when Fred first stirred awake, not because of an alarm or a knock at the door, but because Bandit was making a racket unlike anything he had heard from her before. Normally quiet, she raced into his bedroom, growling and making guttural meows, clawing insistently at his arms and tugging at his blanket.
“She had never done that before,” Fred recalled in interviews. “It was aggressive — like she was telling me to get up, right now.”
Groggy but alarmed, Fred got out of bed and followed Bandit to the kitchen. The moment he flipped on the light, his heart stopped. Just feet away, on the other side of the back door, two masked men were attempting to break in. One gripped a crowbar, jamming it into the doorframe, while the other stood with a handgun, poised for confrontation.
The scene might have escalated quickly, but Fred’s sudden appearance — thanks entirely to Bandit’s frantic warning — seemed to spook the would-be burglars. Before Fred could even retrieve his own firearm from another room, the two men fled into the night.
“It could have been bad. Real bad,” he admitted. “But it didn’t turn into a confrontation. And I truly believe that’s because of my cat.”
Bandit’s Early Life and the Shelter That Saved Her
Bandit’s road to becoming a “guard cat” started back in 2018 at the Tupelo-Lee Humane Society, a shelter that plays a vital role in rehoming abandoned and stray animals across northeast Mississippi.
Fred had stopped by the shelter to drop off a donation. He hadn’t planned to leave with a pet that day, but something changed when he asked if there were any kittens available. That’s when he met Bandit.
The calico kitten had been through her own struggles, rescued from a life of uncertainty. Like many cats at shelters, her fate could have been much different had someone not stepped forward. Fred, recently retired and seeking companionship, felt an instant connection.
“She picked me as much as I picked her,” he often says when retelling their adoption story.
Since then, Bandit has been more than just a companion. She’s been a loyal, affectionate presence in his life — the kind of pet who waits at the door when he comes home, curls up beside him on quiet evenings, and seems to sense his moods. But no one could have predicted that she would also become his lifesaver in a moment of crisis.
The Tupelo-Lee Humane Society later shared Bandit’s story proudly, noting how it highlighted the importance of adoption. Countless cats like Bandit sit in shelters waiting for families to take them home — and, as this story shows, the bond formed can sometimes be life-changing in ways no one expects.
Reflections on Loyalty, Heroism, and the Power of Pets
Fred’s story with Bandit is not just about a foiled burglary; it’s about the extraordinary bond between humans and their pets. While dogs often earn the spotlight as protectors, this story challenges assumptions about cats.
Cats are often thought of as aloof or detached, but many owners know they are deeply attuned to their environments and the emotions of their humans. In Bandit’s case, her instincts told her that something was wrong — and she acted decisively.
Experts note that while cats may not physically intervene in the way dogs sometimes do, their ability to alert and warn should not be underestimated. A sudden change in behavior, like the one Bandit displayed that night, can make all the difference.
Fred has since taken to calling her his “guard cat.” The nickname may sound lighthearted, but behind it is genuine gratitude. He knows that if Bandit hadn’t woken him, the night could have ended very differently.
“Who knows what would have happened if I hadn’t gotten up,” he said. “She saved me, plain and simple.”
The story also serves as a powerful argument for pet adoption. Fred often reflects on the irony: he thought he was saving a cat when he adopted Bandit, but in reality, she may have been the one destined to save him.
“You never know when you save an animal if they’re going to save you,” he said.
Bandit’s Legacy as a Community Hero
News of Bandit’s actions quickly spread, capturing the attention of local residents and eventually making national headlines. People were fascinated by the idea of a cat, not a dog, thwarting a burglary. It became a feel-good story in a time when the news is often heavy, reminding readers of the surprising ways animals impact our lives.
For Fred, though, the story is personal. Every time he sees Bandit lounging in the sun or curling up on his lap, he’s reminded that his furry companion is far more than just a pet. She is a hero, a guardian, and a symbol of how sometimes the smallest creatures can have the biggest impact.
As Fred puts it: “I didn’t adopt a cat. I adopted a guardian angel.”