I was living at home when I got Saxon, and mum didn't really want me to get a cat, so she set a list of conditions: must be Burmese (not that she'd had one, she just like them), blue and a boy.

Little did she know I knew some breeders and had spent time with all their cats. I knew Saxon's mummy, she was sweet and friendly, although she nipped people she liked.

So then Saxon was born in the next litter. He met all of mum's requirements, and so 13 weeks later he came home with me. I would have been happy with a cat from a shelter, but I don't think I would have ever got one as devilish or as sweet as Saxon.

And when it came time to get Lily, I'd checked out how Burmese reacted to other cats. The ones I met didn't seem to get along with shelter kitties, and tended to have more fun with another Burmese. So off to a different breeder this time (the friend didn't breed anymore), and we found Lily. We know the health issues, tempers etc, so it was easy to fit her in, although she is more timid than Saxon.

I don't know, my cats are my kids. I love them, take care of them, and they love me. How it should be.