My house is a zoo. There are two noisy teenagers. There's my eccentric grandmother. There's a young German Shepherd with big sad eyes and a heart of gold. There's a black and white hamster that is constantly plotting his escape plan. There's a cranky old Yorkshire Terrier that has no clue just how small she is. Occasionally, there are assorted fish, birds, and reptiles.

And then there' Duke...

Unlike the rest of our animals, Duke doesn't have an owner. Duke has staff. Duke is fifteen plus pounds of Grey Tabby. He became part of our family nearly two years ago, when my cousin moved, and her new landlord did not allow pets. Please, she begged. He's a really good cat...

And so with a swish of his tail and a flick of his big grey head, Duke sauntered into our living room- and straight into our hearts. Big, clumsy and Sassy, Duke keeps us all in line, all the while making sure he is looking out for number one. My grandmother rants and raves about how the cat needs to come in for the night early, because she will NOT be getting up at all hours just to cater to that dang-gone feline. Either he comes when she calls him, or he can just sleep on the porch.This time, she means it! And then she rolls out of bed at two a.m. when he meows apologetically at the front door to let him in and get him something to eat.

My sister shrieks angrily every time she sees him perched on her bed. He'll get cat hair all over her bedspread! Her allergies! Her good sweater! And then he rolls onto his back and reaches out to her, and she laughs and rubs his big furry belly.

My brother groans every time he sits down to do homework and Duke jumps up onto the desk. He shoves at him. He pushes at him. And in the end he gives in and scratches behind his ears, which is of course what Duke wanted all along.

Duke sleeps where he wants (always on his back, legs sprawled every which way); eats when he wants (only the brand of kitty food that he approves of) and walks around like he owns the house (which some might argue he actually does).

Duke has us all right where he wants us- wrapped around his paw. He sleeps in the middle of the bed- we sleep around him. We serve him before we sit down to eat. He comes and goes as he pleases. And we wouldn't have it any other way. Because the truth is, no matter how much we give to our furry little boss, we get so much more in return.

Learn more about this author, Veronika Lazabal.
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