Since this...
has become sort of a meandering thread, we now have a little black domestic long-hair, who adopted us about nine years ago. So smart, she's creepy sometimes. She's schizophrenic, when it comes to personality. Indoors, she's affectionate - cuddles, pats your cheek with her paw and has a variety of chirps, cheeps, clicks - never a meow. Outside, she turns into the avenging scourge of the rodent population. Last year, during a chipmunk plague (we live next to Monte Sano State Park), she killed 50 chipmunches in 60 days. Yesterday, she almost ended up with a companion - a friend had to give up several pets in order to move back to Mobile to take care of aging parents. It would have been interesting - a little Bichon Frise (little white mop of a dog). Didn't work out and probably just as well. Not sure the queen would share space...