Pets

Four cats - I think they are as much work as one toddler. We have four now, and all day we must intervene: as one isn't getting along with the other and needs to tell us about it, and then two are playing in a cute way, and then one is in trouble and the "Nannie" of the group, my long tailed Manx, Chelbs, comes to tell me about the trouble that one is in. (20 to 30 percent of all Manx have normal tails.)

And we are lucky because the open space near the house diverts the time and attention of two of the cats, who are semi-feral. Otherwise, there might be more demands.

Yet as a dog person, I do miss having a dog around.