Cats

Cats.  We had a black cat we called Simba, rescued from the "Stars" print room, I took it home as a pet for the kids.
The first mistake was to believe that cats are like dogs, ready to bond with their human friend, to love, honour and obey! Not a bit of it !!
The kitten, covered in printers ink needed cleaning so I ran some warm water in th e bath and tried to convince the little jet-black bundle that it was all for the good. Of course I hadn't quite understood that my "good" didn't correspond to Simbas.  The bath water turned red with blood, my blood as the bundle set about defending its life and limb.
Simba was always aloof, deaning it possible, just possible that a stroke or scratch would be acknowledged with a deep purr, an occasional meow a lean against the leg and then off, imperious, investing his time in cat things.
There are families who surround themselves with these manifestly singularly, self-absorbed animals and in effect, fall under their spell. Its as if, we humans can't quite come to terms with an animal that treats us with so much disdain. Unlike a dog who is in thrall to its master the cat will capture the high ground and treat us to the proverbial cold shoulder if we show emotion and then switch their interest at feeding time !!
I was always amazed. Simba seemed self contained, even keeping his hygiene under wraps. I never discovered where the cat went but he didn't seem to think it proper to make a mess on his own doorstep.
I think if the cat has friends and family, a colony forms and takes over home and hearth. Humans begin to take a back seat and the house looses its purpose. Never satisfied, the felines curl and stretch all over the place, whilst the humans pick their way gingerly around the room, seeking a spot to call their own.