'Twas the week before Christmas when all thro' the house,

not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
(Because, you know . . . cats).

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
and the cats were trying to pull them down from there.

Out on the lawn, I heard such a clatter, 
I flew to the window to see what was the matter. 
(I figured it was stray cats, they're always into something.)

When what to my wondering eyes should appear, 
but a miniature sleigh, and 8 tiny reindeer. 
(But not too tiny, because, you know . . . cats.)

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof . . . nothing. 
Because it was Santa Claws, and you know . . . cats. They're pretty stealthy.

As I drew in my head and was turning around, 
down the chimney Santa Claws came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his ears to his foot, 
and right away started grooming, (because of the soot.)

He spoke not a word, but went (rather lazily) to his work, 
and filled all the stockings,then turned with jerk

because he heard a bell that had chimed, 
and straight up the Christmas tree he climbed!

But I heard him meow, as I set the tree back upright,