How did I miss this the first time around!!!!

We had a formerly-stray cat named Buddy who LOVED the pennywhistle, even as lousy as I played it. He'd come running and jump up in your lap, and proceed to rub his face against your face, and the whistle. You could also just whistle, and he'd do the same.

Thumper, our other cat, hates the pennywhistle, and would cry when I started to play.

When our old dog Zenith was a puppy, she barked at the guitar the first time Mister got it out. She got used to it. Then we got an accordion, and she barked at that too.

We had a budgie that liked my singing and would sing along with me. The girls I used to sing with didn't want to come practice at my house because the self-proclaimed "leader" of the trio thought Cactus was a distraction. Cactus was also extremely fond of Michael Martin Murphey's first Cowboy Songs album.

Nowadays, we just have Zenith, Thumper, and Belle (our other dog.) They are pretty indifferent to our playing, but they don't all leave the room at once. :-)