I am a pet owner.
I have owned just about every normal pet, from hamsters, to turtles, and a cat and dog.
Therefore I feel somewhat marginally qualified to write about the inner-workings of the feline population.
I owned my cat for 18 years and watched her be pampered way beyond reason.
My mother used to cook her liver, sautéed in butter and seasoned just right.
It was a meal fit for a, qu...
well a cat.
Anyway, as part of a series of articles that peer into the mind of various members of the world's inhabitants,I though I would pay homage to the untold millions of cat owners and see if I could strike acommon chord.
So, in no particular order, here are some thoughts on that purrfect animal:

• As kittens, they are as about as darn cute as anything ever placed on earth.
  
• As adults, they can still be as cute as a kitten or as dangerous as a deranged puma, depending on their mood.
  
• If they could talk they might say: "Attention everyone.
  I own this place and you people too.
  "
• They get to choose when to be social and when to be loners.
  
• There's nothing better than a good scratch on the ole scratchin' pole.
  
• They spend an inordinate amount of time licking every possible area they can reach.
  
• They will cough up anything at any moment and then go back to licking themselves.
  
• They will, for no apparent reason, begin to play with something and then stop as if a switch was turned off.
  
• They are fearful of any sudden movements, even by their owner.
  (see below)
• They don't believe they have an owner.
  Rather, they have a caretaker or servant.
  
• They get fur-balls and are proud enough to cough them up to show you.
  
• If they catch a mouse outside, they will bring it in as if to say, "Look what I can do.
  "
• They are suspicious of all other living things and will crouch down and watch them for hours.
  
• They will hiss or claw at anything unfamiliar as a sign of saying, "I'm here and your not.
  "
• They can lap up any liquid with a seemingly motorized tongue.
  
• They can be easily spooked and will leap an improbably height when startled.
  
• They spend a lot of time sleeping in preparation for their next big adventure.
  
• A big adventure, for them, might be eating and more licking.
  
• They think they're cute when they rub up against our legs and purr.
  And they are.
  
• They aren't thrilled about baths and water in general.
  
• Did I mention they really, really enjoy licking and sleeping?

That's enough for this round.
If I can think of any more I will do so in a follow-up article.
For now, I have to see why my cat is making a whining sound in the kitchen.
Could it have something to do with feeding time? Or does she have another terrific fur-ball to share with me.
I wonder...