The "singing" cat was Richard, a huge Siamese who was one of the many critters who shared Helen's house when I lived there during most of 1976. He really did sing, just as Alan described. Nigel was a springer spaniel of very little brain but large devoted heart. And boy could he drool from those dewlaps of his! Helen has had many, many cats and several dogs in subsequent years, most of whom came to her because they got the word on the street that hers was a heart with as much space for four-footed friends as there was for us human waifs and strays--a place where everyone would be welcomed, fed, and cared for.