Last week in this space my colleague Donna Paris wrote a great quiz that posed a series of hard- and not-so-hard hitting questions to perspective dog owners. Me, I'm more of a cat person. As a former member of a feline's staff cat owner, I know how enriching it is to share a home with this animal. And while my house is currently furball free, the thought of adopting a new little friend has crossed my mind on more than one occasion. Until that day comes I've put together a quiz to help others decide if they are ready to open their home to a cat. [caption id="attachment_13913" align="aligncenter" width="286"] Yep, coming home to faces like these would be pretty sweet (photo: Adriano from it.wi).[/caption] 1) Would fur complement everything in your home? If not, but are not deterred by this, then may I offer these four words of advice: lint roller and packing tape. 2) Do you enjoy unexpected presents? Cats are weird. While you gift them with gifts like a new toy or a packet of kitty treats, they bring you a dead bird. Love is love, I guess. 3) Do you like to share your food? I certainly don’t mind if my (human) dinner companion would like to sample something on my plate (well, fork off the mashed potatoes!), but please ask first. Don't be surprised if when you look away for a split second you turn back to find a cat nose deep in turkey. 4) Do you enjoy being woken up at 3 am? The cat would like to go outside. Now. 5) Do you still like to play games like hide and seek? This question comes more from personal experience. Shortly after my family adopted our cat, she welcomed herself by exploring every nook and cranny of her new abode. We never knew where we'd find her: under the stove, the bottom drawer of my brother’s dresser, inside a wall.… [caption id="attachment_13930" align="aligncenter" width="400"] "Can I help you?"[/caption] 6) Do you enjoy staying seated for long stretches of time? Again, I speak from experience here. Who wouldn’t love having a warm cat purring away of their lap, her little engine just 'a motoring away? But before you invite her up (or sit down and she invites herself up), get a drink, grab a snack, visit the bathroom and call your mother. You will not be getting back up for a while. It will not be allowed. Your cat’s comfort is paramount; your comfort is irrelevant. 7) Are you easily grossed out? If you’re a mom, you passed this part of the test long ago. If not, can you handle seeing a hairball on your favourite rug? What about finding a bird behind the couch? Or discovering drool on your pillow after your cat has used it for its nap? (I’m not sure how high I should hold my head for this, but I didn't so much as bat a lash upon the discovery of a slightly moistened pillow one night.) 8) Are you OK with being completely ignored from time to time? You know the old saying, “dogs have owners, cats have staff.” As your superior, a cat may inexplicable choose to tune you out with no more than a swish of its tail. For those who may be looking for an indoor-outdoor cat, you may need extra patience. When calling the cat in for the evening, don't expect her to just stop what she's doing and come running. (I’d suggest keeping a box of cereal close to the door. Shake, wait and repeat.) 9) Have you reached the stage where you're comfortable with what’s mine is yours (and what’s yours is yours)? That pillow where you lay your head? Yep, there’s room there for a cat to lay her noggin beside you. That plush chair in front of the TV? Sure, there’s room for the cat to take his 70 percent share. The cat’s sweet blanket in front of the fireplace? Scoot, get away, that’s not yours! 10) Are you ready for (almost) unconditional love? Really, as much grief as we may give cats for their regal ways, they always seem to be there when you need a friend to just sit with or talk to. Just don't step on the tail. Do you have a cat? What other questions (serious or silly) would you suggest people ask themselves before adopting a cat?