I can’t be trusted with flora, but I like most fauna. If I had a favorite, I suppose it must be cats, because I have always had cats. I can count off my life with them. The two Siameses we had when I was kid; the bobcat hybrid I adopted in college; the Abyssinian I adopted with Tim and later, the Abyssinian’s roommate, the Boston Charlie; the yellow Maine Coon who inveigled Michael into bringing it home; and now Emmeline, who is a “dilute calico”, mostly white, with gray and brown patches.

Of them all, the bobcat hybrid was the most fun because bobcat hybrids don’t stop being kittens. He was always bouncy — never entered the dozing throw-pillow stage most cats go through. Once, because the guy kept blinking, he launched himself into the face of a Mormon missionary who was sitting on the sofa — the cat hit him full-on with his soft furry stomach, then slid into his lap, purring. The man was startled, but very nice about it, considering. Just straightened his glasses and went on talking.

The Abyssinian was the most elegant and affectionate. The Boston Charlie was the shyest, but the best climber.

The yellow Maine Coon was the most aggressive. For some reason, my using the tv remote could enrage him, and occasionally we’d have to lock him in the bedroom.

Emmeline is the smartest. She allows me to use the remote and watches tv with us, and by that I don’t mean she sleeps on the couch while we watch tv. She watches it, commenting whenever any animal appears on the screen. During ball games, she’s been known to sit up and wave a paw at the screen as if trying to catch something.

I do like dogs. I’ll go out of my way to walk past a dog park so I can watch them.

Also, when I was twelve I was acquainted with a hippo who loved it when I scratched his gums. He was far from my favorite, but I think it’s worth mentioning.