For the last 6 years, I have been owned by Onyx, a lovely black female with brown highlights which show up in the sun. She is mainly an outside cat. She is rather timid around other cats - I have even seen her being bossed around by a visiting moggy. I think it is mainly because she is very laid back and not aggressive.

However, today I have taken delivery of another kitty, my son's black cat, Bella, who is apparently somewhat more assertive. They have moved to a flat where they aren't allowed any pets, so I've inherited her for now. We've only been back here an hour or so, and Bella has already made herself at home by rubbing up against the various pieces of furniture, and is now curled up on the cushion I rest my feet on when I am at my computer.

The two cats haven't met yet, because Onyx is away paying her respects to the neighbourhood, but it will be interesting to see what happens when they do. I think I'll let them meet with a screen door between them for a start, but I'll have to be careful to make sure that Onyx doesn't feel left out. Bella is also mainly an outside cat, so once she is used to being in a new place and I let her outside, they will have to get used to being around each other a lot. Bella is more of a pure black, and slimmer, so there will be no mixing them up - not really a matched set of bookends at all.

So now I am owned by two cats!