I have a theory that pets make the living experience much better on all counts. Also, it saves on the heating bills to have breathing hot water bottles on hand. *g*

Cats, though... The little monsters never stay still long enough once you've locked on them with a camera. They can have been asleep in the same position for the last five hours, but you look at them with intent and they're halfway across the house. You have to go ninja stealth photographer and catch them unawares. (I did not, of course, wander about maniacally whispering, "Shh! I'm hunting kitties!" in the course of this photo shoot. Nope. Not at all.)