I'm reminded by some posts of a moment when a 5 year old child entered a classroom where there was a cage containing two chinchillas. Child stopped dead in his tracks, pointed at the chinchillas and said "What's THAT?"   I told him it was two chinchillas. He sniffed. "What are they FOR?" he asked. "What are YOU for?" I asked him. He seemed to take this on board.

I don't think dogs or cats are FOR anything - they just are. And we choose to love them. Or not. Unless we live on a farm and need working animals, in which case both species prove their worth in different ways. Otherwise, if they're of practical use that's a bonus.

And our cat doesn't smell, nor does her litter tray. Although she can fart for Wales (but then so can many humans - and dogs - I can think of). She is, however, a little bundle of love and definitely misses us when we're not around - not just to open the food packets.

Anne (cuddling a very cuddlable cat)