This could be my cat:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/images/060613-cat-bear_big.jpg
"On June 4 a black bear wandered into a West Milford, New Jersey, back yard, was confronted by a 15-pound (7-kilogram) tabby cat … and fled up a neighbor's tree. Hissing at the base of the tree, Jack the clawless cat kept the bear at bay for about 15 minutes, then ran him up another tree after an attempted escape."
Link.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/06/images/060613-cat-bear_big.jpg
"On June 4 a black bear wandered into a West Milford, New Jersey, back yard, was confronted by a 15-pound (7-kilogram) tabby cat … and fled up a neighbor's tree. Hissing at the base of the tree, Jack the clawless cat kept the bear at bay for about 15 minutes, then ran him up another tree after an attempted escape."
Link.
I think the date on the story is 2006. Oops. 
summer storms. I think the lack of thunderstorms is what makes winter so bleak.