This is Pawley, my 8 year old beautiful black cat. I was 41 when my goddaughters decided that I needed a kitten. I had had dogs all my life and never owned a cat. I wasn't too crazy about having a cat, but they thought it was a great idea.

Let me say, that was one of the best gifts I've ever gotten. She is a sweet cat and is totally devoted to me. She's shy around other people, but sleeps on the pillow beside me every night, purring like a freight train.

Almost every morning before the alarm goes off, she crawls up on my chest and licks my right ear lobe until I have to get up. I don't know why she does this, but I have had people tell me that this is a sign of affection. By the way - she is a hefty 15 lbs., so that feels very heavy on my chest after a couple of minutes.

Needless to say, I am now definitely a cat person. She is my sweet girl who has been nothing but a pleasure for me for 8 years now.