My pedigree: have owned cats since I was two. At age four I took a mouse out of my cats mouth and, when the mouse turned around and bit my thumb, promptly gave it back to the cat. Cats were already proving their wisdom to me! Have had interesting experiences with a wide range of breeds and ways of acquiring cats. Have had wonderful successes with restoring injured cats to health and heartbreaking times when nothing could be done but assisting them in retiring from life. Have had to wear knee high boots to walk to the kitchen in the morning to protect my ankles from kitten attacks, have had to post lost posters (successfully) for the Hodini of rescued & declawed cats, have had cats dropped on my desk at work, on my doorstep at home, brought to me in boxes, one was found in a paper bag that was 'bouncing' along the side of a road...I'm starting a new beginning (cats and kids moved out) with a amazingly shy, full-blooded persian. I hope we become fast friends. Since Persians are new to me and since timidness of this extreme is also new, I've joined this site to gain insight into cats who fear. All my cats have taught me something and all have enhanced my life. I'd like to return the favor.