In America today, cats are kept as pets in more homes than dogs. Perhaps this is because our society has become so urbanized. Cats are probably easier than dogs to keep in a city apartment. At any rate, the cat is now the number one pet in the USA.

It has been said that man is the master of his dog, but the servant of his cat. Cats have been called many things--proud, haughty and the like. But one thing is certain, they are mysterious and independent, and they can be fickle. Sometimes they overflow with affection, and the next moment they want nothing more to do with you.

There are exceptions, of course. The most memorable cat I ever had was an old gray tabby, a stray who ran afoul of a pack of dogs running loose in the neighborhood. He ran into our yard and I scared away the dogs, but the old cat was pretty well chewed up by the time I got to him. He could hardly move. I carried him up to our back porch, dressed his wounds as well as I could, and gave him some water and food. He survived and prospered, and adopted us as his family.

"Tabby" and I were best buddies from then on. He followed me around constantly. When I was away and returned, he would run out to the car to greet me, just like a dog. He was old when we met, and he didn't live too much longer after that, but while he lived we enjoyed each other's company immensely. That was many years ago, and I still remember that old gray tabby with deep affection.