They're part of history, of course. We've all heard tales about the honored cats of the Pharaoh, or the black cats favored by witches and sorcerers of the Middle Ages. But for nearly ten thousand years they've mostly been men's most useful companions... and still are. We cuddle them, often spoil them, make sure to use the proper cat litter and cat food , but they always give it back a hundred folds; both in love and services. Either to keep rodents out of the barn, or keep us warm when we watch TV, cats are an intimate part of our life. Siamese cats , once owned only by the Kings of Siam, are undisputed kings or queens of today's households. There's nothing like the soft hair of Persian cats to lay our head on at night and forget all our cares. Thanks to the dedication of cat breeders there are so many breeds nowadays that one is bound to fulfill our expectations, but let's keep in mind that the common cat picked up at the local SPCA is just as lovable. We must also remember that, contrary to the old saying, cat and dog do get along... most of the time. So, unless there's an allergy involved, why hesitate? A funny cat video always makes us laugh; a cute cat picture invariably brings a smile on our face. So let's go for the real thing instead. Cats are free spirits, and their affection, freely given, is unconditional.