[ WP ] Aliens are coming to Earth , but they 've made one glaring miscalculation : They believe cats to be the dominant species .

Mr. Jones absently stared at the four round patches of ash in his perfect lawn. He had sworn to keep his old friend's lawn beautiful when he became President of the United States, and accepted a life of near constant surveillance to do it. A trifle to some in this age, but a hard sacrifice for a freed-loving man from the mountains. His loyalty to his friend and pride in his work were what kept him going. Now, he hardly noticed the procession of giant insects solemnly walking towards the White House. He had failed in his duty. 
 
 Resistance was futile. Arnold, chief of security, had already lost two men trying to stop the steady advance of the aliens. If you stayed out of their way you were fine, but attempt to stop them and you were toast. Literally. The halls smelled like burning hair in some places. They were clearly here for the President. At first they ( slowly ) made for the Oval Office, but when the President was evacuated they changed direction to follow him. He would have been flown or driven out by now except that all approaching vehicles had been immediately destroyed by the alien landing craft. The invaders themselves and their ship seemed resistant to all forms of attack. 
 
 President Reed was a very nice old man, and very honorable. When faithful Arnold had run to him and desperately tried to say everything but `` I ca n't stop them'', Reed calmly shushed him and said, 
 
 `` It's obviously me they want. If I go they may leave the rest of you alone.'' He began to walk towards the aliens, who had just rounded a corner in the bunker and entered the long escape tunnel. 
 
 `` Sir, will you at least leave your cat here?'' Arnold pleaded. 
 
 `` Mittens has kept me company all three years of my Presidency, and I will certainly want him wherever I go now.'' 
 
 President Reed, you see, had the one eccentricity that he always kept his cat with him, to the dismay of all his stricter staff members. Mittens was in his arms now, a regally purring pile of white fluff. 
 
 At his command all of the President's company stayed behind. Reed approached the aliens at the same pace they approached him. He showed no fear. 
 
 When they stood about a meter away the aliens stopped. The President stopped as well. There were five of them, one in front and four double-file behind. The one in front was carrying a golden box with red hinges in two of its little arms. It reached forward, opened the box – 
 
 And revealed catnip and a beautiful salmon fillet inside. 
 
 President Reed decided he was going to get along with the aliens very well.
