My wife and I own two cats. She had a cat before we moved in together and then we decided to get another about a year ago. This is somewhat of a new experience for me.

Growing up my family mostly had dogs and I never much saw the point in having a cat. They just seemed like selfish creatures that pooped in the house, eyed you with disdain, and had urine that was akin to mustard gas. On a side note, cleaning an oversaturated litter box is like engaging in biological warfare. That shit stings the eyes something fierce. Well, it's not the shit that stings the eyes. It's the pee and THAT shit does sting. So anyway back to the point, I considered myself to be, you know, a dog guy while growing up.

After college, I lived with some friends and they took in a stray cat. They already had two cats and we lived in a mostly peaceful truce most of the time. I'd ignore them and they would walk all over me and show me their anuses when they were bored. Looking back, I think they had the better deal.

This stray was a horrid looking thing. It was barely old enough to have it's eyes opened, abandoned and found near a trash heap, if I remember correctly. It, also, had some sort of fungal infection and most of it's hair was gone. The friends I was living with were getting married at this time. As such, they were very busy and not in the house a whole lot, especially once the honeymoon rolled around. I was around and not doing much at the time, so I helped feed the wretched thing and take care of it. There is a funny story of the cat spreading the fungal infection to the bride and bridesmaids in the form of red blotchy spots but that is for another post. Just be warned. All brides should avoid fungus ridden waif kittens until after the photos have been taken.

The whole point of telling you all this is that this was a turning point for me. I grew quite attached to that cat as it healed and grew up. He would wedge himself between my back and the chair to sleep. I would pet him until he drooled and his eyes rolled back into his head in pure ecstasy. This cat made me a cat person. So, when my wife suggested we adopt a stray I was game.

And this new cat takes the cake. I've never had a cat like this one. She has taught herself how to play fetch which amuses me to no end. Not just because of the fact that I've never had nor seen a cat who plays fetch but in the manner she how she plays it.

I usually sit in a very specific chair when I fiddle around on the computer, which is often. So the cat, understandably, runs up over the couch to this chair and drops the ball on the chair for me to throw. But she'll do that even when I'm not in the chair. When I'm sitting on the couch with my wife she'll run up and over us to the chair and drop the ball five feet away on the chair. She will then turn around and look at me with eyes that say "Come on chubby butt. Get over here and throw this damn thing already."

Here we have the cliche of cats and dogs writ small. Whereas the dog will bring you the ball, the cat makes you get off your duff and get it yourself. Which while a tad frustrating at times also amuses me and makes me respect the cat a little more. Or maybe I'm just saying that because she's curled up, asleep on my legs right now.