[GretchenEE]

My best cat *ever* was a bright, blotched calico with a kinked tail named Tiki. Her mom belonged to some neighbors and I visited them to death while the kittens were getting ready to be adopted. I begged and begged for her but my mother said "We can't afford her." (Strange, very strange, coming from a woman who adopted stray cats like they were US savings bonds.) On my ninth birthday, my parents gave her to me with a red bow around her neck.

I trained her to do tricks. There are some pets with whom we bond in a way inexplicable. She was my little anchor in childhood.

[homemom]

YOu taught a cat to do tricks? I've had many, many cats since childhood and have never been able to get any of them to do anything but what THEY wanted, WHEN they wanted, and HOW they wanted.

Cats definitely have personalities, tho! Our latest adopted one is fascinated with all of our other animals. He climbs in the guinea pig cage when I leave the door open to feed the GP. One GP is in an open cage, and Lucky (the cat) sits on top of the GP's teepee like shelter and bats at the GP when she tries to get out. She tries to get in with the baby ducks. She sits on the lid of the fish tank and sticks her little paws thru any little space. She is a sweetie!

[ride the whirlwind]

...On my ninth birthday, my parents gave her to me with a red bow around her neck...

I love your story. So good ol' mom came through after all! Here's our calico, Sadie, a few months ago: