GENERAL INTRODUCTION

My cat is, officially, classed as: 'Black, English domestic short hair'.

Currently, -(2025)- she is over 8+ years old. I brought her as a kitten from inside of a local pet shop. (She is electronically 'tagged'...so, hopefully, won't ever go missing...without being found.)

The photo is taken using an iPad/built-in camera app. As they say, the 'I's -(pun: eyes)- have it...with both of us being caught 'staring' really hard straight into the camera lens. ;-)

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FEEDING

Just like you, too, I also 'love' living with my cat...; in fact, she serves as a really great 'regular' alarm clock...as she wakes me up in the mornings to go and feed her. LOL ;-)

It's funny how animals seem to know what is the exact time...I feed my cat 6 AM mornings/and, then, again, 6 PM evenings...liquid pouch food: chicken/or, fish. 

In between times, I give her a plateful of cat treats...Whiskas pellet food...; and, she can go help herself at any time she pleases.

Otherwise, and, entirely at random...I 'share' human food with her, as well...including, diced cooked ham slices/or else, a tin of sardines fish/or, even, chicken wings/-etc.

Naturally, of course, there is always 'fresh' water available put out for her to drink...either inside of the house/or else, outside in the back garden.

(*NOTE*: The cat will eat a lot...; that is, if you choose to over-feed her. So, I have to be cautious to NOT give in to her constant 'begging'...; I like her weight to be kept being medium...not too skinny/not too fat.) 

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GOOD POINTS

Cats, are natural born athletes...; they can jump up something like 9 times their own height(don't be too surprised when one day you wake up...and, can't find the cat...; only to discover she's chosen to sleep on top of the wardrobe...?!)

Cats, can walk/balance on a thin fence just like any tight rope walker(they use their tails to balance/and, do have a special organ which keeps them being upright...allowing them to land straight back on their feet whenever they fall).

Cats are able to see in the dark really well...; whereas, human beings don't see nearly half so well when confronted by total darkness. Because she is 'black'...I do very nearly trip up on her...if it's night and the lights are off...and, she's sitting/or, lying around at the top of the stairs...whenever I wish to go down...; so, I have to remember to tread very slowly and carefully.

Cat's are really beautiful...extremely supple animals...their movement is extremely 'graceful'...indeed, positively 'balletic' to watch...; and, their really cute antics does always amaze me....whether it's 'moving'/or, just simply lying still...having been tightly 'curled up into a ball' while resting/sleeping. 

She can run really fast, too...faster than I am able to chase after her.

Cat's are wonderfully independent animals...; she doesn't mind it when I leave her alone(no barking to go disturb the neighbors). 

Cats, sleep a lot...they generally have a peaceful demeanor...; which, in turn, helps me to feel relaxed, quiet and calm.

Cats, love to be stroked...by anybody they regard as being their true 'friend'...; they will usually respond by rather loudly 'purring'...to state how much they like being stroked. (But, everything has it's limits...and, if the cat don't wish to be stroked anymore...it will, quite simply, leave/or, if you persist in behavior it doesn't want...then, it will either 'bite or scratch'.)

Over time, you get to know what your cat wants/when...; and, I guess, vice versa is true...they get to know what are your own personal habits, too.

Cats, rub their head into your legs/hands to mark you with their scent...; which is stating that you are their property.

If the cat is female...; and, you let her out to go meet with other cats; then, far more likely than not...; you will find you have pregnant animal, soon. My cat already had one cat litter(6 kittens)...which I had to give away...too much to look after/feed/watch. Afterwards, the vet neutered her so that she can't have any more kittens; the vet said, she would be healthier, and, also, get to live a lot longer that way.

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BAD POINTS

Cat's, are very clean animals...and, are constantly cleaning themselves using their tongue. They can leave little fur balls lying around all over the place.

In the mornings/evenings...when I open up the back garden door to let the cat out to run/climb for a bit...; I also make sure to keep the back garden door, quite firmly, 'closed'.

Otherwise, the cat will have no problems at all...in finding a mouse...; and, then, bringing it straight to your bed...to hand it over as a 'gift'. (Needless to say, a gift I neither need/nor want...; and, most certainly, didn't ask for...?!)

At other times, the cat will chase after birds. (That's why cat owners buy a collar with a bell...; so, that the birds can 'hear' the cat coming.)  One time I recall opening up the back garden door...; and, she brought in a bird, with a broken wing, hanging from her mouth. 

I had to rush down to the local vets...; and, explain this is what the cat found. (I really don't know if that bird was able to fully recover or not...; as I never went back to the vets to hear.)

The cat needs to be given a scratching post...; otherwise, she will try and sharpen her claws on the furniture.

Unlike a dog...; if someone broke into the house to attack...; then, my guess is, the cat would most probably 'run'...rather than stay and 'fight' to protect you. (So, that is the advantage of having a dog, I guess.)

Cats can be fiercely territorial against other cats. I recall, once, a friendly next door neighbor cat...; tried walking in through the front door...; and, then, calmly walked upstairs...to where my cat was lying down alseep. Cat's, can smell one another's 'scent'...which we humans cannot. Well, as soon as my cat saw there was another cat inside of the house...she went absolutely 'ballistic' mad...snarling/and, spitting/and, bearing her claws. I actually felt a bit 'shocked'...; as I'm really not used to my cat behaving like that. Anyway, eventually, the other cat got the message...; and, basically, walked straight back out the front door. She, truly, is the Queen of the house...; and, therefore, won't take too very kindly to being de-throned by any other.

Cats, can be curious...which is why they say that cats have, at least, 9 lives...! Whether it's hiding underneath a car(which, unknown to the cat, might be about to abruptly move off...)/or, climbing some huge heights...a tree/or, fence/or, on top of a shed. They will even climb out onto the open window cill...if you let them...totally 'fearless' about heights. Needless to say, there's a lot of danger there, potentially...?! (The good part is, like most animals, they have really 'fast' reflexes...; and, once a lesson is learned, they don't tend to forget...; such as don't touch the pot that's cooking as it's too 'hot'...!)

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DOG PERSON VS CAT PERSON

They say you are either a dog person/or, a cat person.

I grew up in a household full of cats(mother cat/kittens)...; and, therefore, quite honestly, for me...a house is 'never' a house...without, at least, one...?!

Otherwise, it would be a very miserable and lonesome place, indeed...like something is very sorely missing...??? 

Animals, look after you...; just like you look after them...; and, sometimes, I'm really not too sure exactly who owns who...? We both seem to 'live' for one another. When I go out -(the cat is never too far off my mind...is it feeding time, yet? Is she still 'safe'...I wonder what she might be up to...?)-;  and, then, return back in...; she can't 'wait' to see me/and, nor me, her, again. It's almost like having the 'perfect' marriage. LOL