Here, Kitty, Kitty?

 I've thought of myself a "dog person" from the minute a certain chocolate labrador puppy entered my life, sometime when I was about 15.  He was supposed to sleep by himself in a little doggie bed, but that never really happened.  As a puppy, he made sad little noises if he slept by himself {I think he missed his Mommy} so I let him sleep on my bed.  It was easy enough at first, when he was the size of a warm teddy bear, but when he crept closer to 90 pounds, it got a little cramped in my twin bed.  Luckily, he liked to make the rounds at night to check on everyone {any one of my family might find him snoring at the end or their bed}, so I wasn't always deprived of legroom.

That's me and Beauregard, on my 24th birthday.  Yes, I was a red-head at the time, and I loved it, but it is a very difficult color to maintain so I've largely stuck to blonde.
Bless his canine heart, Beauregard was friendly to everyone, and even liked to guard babies:

I've wanted to get another doggy ever since I had to leave Beauregard behind when I moved out of my parent's house after graduating from college.  But I can't bring myself to get one, since I can't bear the thought of leaving one alone for most of the day with no company and no yard.  And then there's the fact that I prefer the big puppies - I couldn't possibly make a lab or doodle or even a spaniel stay cooped up in our condo.

But I REALLY want a pet.  Mr. Curieuse isn't a pet person, but being the fantastic hubby that he is, will roll with whatever pet decision I make.

So . . . I've been thinking about getting a cat.  I am not a cat person, generally.  I think it's because we had a cat named Bradley that would scratch Beauregard's nose {and hump my favorite sweater, but that's another issue}.  But don't get me wrong - I do like some cats.  I liked the first cat we had, Bradley's mother, Monet.  And I really liked her kittens, except for Bradley.

And then there's the issue of the HAIR, hair, everywhere.  You all know someone who walks around with cat hair stuck all over them like they've just given up or don't even notice any more. I don't want to be that person. But all of the best-looking cats {in my opinion} are also serious shedders.

{via}

Meow.  

Any cat owners out there?  Do you have suggestions as to breed or shedding control?  Advice about owning a pet in a small-ish space with no yard?