they are fast, small, unpredictable, and unexpected?

A long time ago in a town not far away, I was living in a semi-subterranean apartment (my window sills were ground-level). I had two cats living there at the time. All of a sudden, I noticed they were taking turns camping out in front of the laundry basket for several days in a row. Well, silly me, I finally got curious as to what had their rapt attention and moved the basket. Out from behind said basket comes a terrified mouse, running right at me. I took in the 6 or 7 feet between where I was and my bed in two strides squealing like a 5-year-old girl the whole way.