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                          Who said meow?

They come to your home, occupy all the possible nook and cranny and step-by-step become the full members of the family. These impudent, independent creatures with self-esteem and greatness make themselves comfortable in our hearts and souls. I think, everybody easily guessed this simple riddle and we are ready to start our story about CATS.

I don’t know people who absolutely dislike cats. Of course, there are persons who say with the grand expert’s faces: « You know, dogs are true friends, devoted companions. And cats are absolutely useless, lazy and stupid pets. They don’t bring you slippers every morning. And what about licking? How can you live without a wet face, man! » You are perfectly right, my dear dog owner. And let`s forget about your every-morning-exhausted smile at 6 a.m. when you take your faithful ally out for a walk! Sometimes I specially wake up earlier to see this wonderful scene:  gloomy, silent men and women mince with their dogs from one bush to another, dreaming about warm beds.  But we digressed from our theme.

     When I was a little girl I wished to have a cat. And a unicorn. But firstly a cat. I asked my parents and granny, wrote to Santa Claus and on my seventh birthday my mother solemnly presented me a colorful box with a desired inscription «Kitty». I was so happy at that moment! I opened a box with shaking hands, peeped into the cherished case…and burst into tears. There WAS a kitten. A clockwork one.

 My dream came true only last year, on my 19^th birthday. Before buying a cat my mother and I rummaged through the Internet to know all the possible information about these creatures. Do you know that there are more than 70 breeds of cats in the world? And every breed has its own character and habits? Not to speak about colors.

At last, I set my choice on The British Shorthair. Plush, clumsy and tiny bears were looking at me from every photo. At the same time, the adult Britishers were surprised by their size and royal serenity. The question about the kitten’s gender wasn’t even discussed. I wanted a girl-cat because one more man in our family would be a little catastrophe.

The kitten was like its fellows on the pictures. The Little lady adapted to the new place very quickly and immediately settled down on my mother’s pillow. But the princess still didn’t have any name.

Believe me, to choose the appropriate name for a pet is an incredibly difficult process which includes your knowledge, fantasy and strong nervous system. Many people give the names to their cats on the hoof. Owing to this fact, our world is full of Barsiks, Vasyas, Mashkas and etc. Of course, there are several Archibalds, Beladonnas, Kleopatras and even  Afinas. I personally know one naughty Aristotle and one black Darth Vader (his owner is obsessed about Star Wars).

No doubt, the girl, whose hamster’s called Merlin in honor of the famous wizard (or the famous musician Merlin Manson), couldn’t deprive the kitten of this priviledge. In any case, she was nicknamed Taira.

Cats are so mysterious and unpredictable. My family and I could personally be convinced of it when our Taira magically turned into…a boy! Ta-dam! But I wasn’t upset, because our Teddy bear or Ted, as we called him, is a cattish Mr. Right.

I can say with confidence, that this little creature has changed our life. I don’t mean a thick layer of hair on the carpet and furniture, or a torn –to- shreds sofa, or scratched arms and legs, or loud mewing in the early morning. I mean warm purr in the evening, fat and soft cheeks, velvety pads, speechless love and devotion. Don’t believe people who say that cats are unemotional! They can be sad and take offence, forgive and rejoice, they can give and receive love.

Our miracle is one year old now. He is a self-reliant, seven-kilo boy with the infectious Cheshire smile, a favourite of my family and our neighbours.

You may ask me what the purpose of my story is and I answer you - I want to make the readers smile as my cat does all the time. And remember: if you don’t like cats – you haven’t found your Cat yet.