1. Do you have any pets? If so, how many, and what are their names?
Yes, two cats aged about 8 called Harry and Sally. We think they’re siblings, but as they’re rescues we aren’t sure. Oh and the names weren’t our choice, but those of the rehoming centre staff.
We also have lots of fish: both freshwater tropicals and pond fish. They don’t have names. Surprisingly the cats take no interest in them at all.

2. What was your very first pet? Do you remember its name?
Throughout my childhood we always had a cat. Most of them were black, and the first one (which I think my parents got just before I was born) was called Sooty. She had lots of kittens — we always seemed to have kittens around the house when I was a kid.
Then when I was 7 or 8 we got a small dog called Sue, which was supposedly mine. But of course like all kids I didn’t look after her!
After that I suppose my real first pets were our first two cats: Floss and Pickle which Noreen and I got soon after we moved into our own house in 1981.

3. Is there an animal you would never have as a pet?
Basically anything wild or which I knew I couldn’t look after — so that’s most things! Personally I don’t think I’d ever keep marine fish, snakes or other reptiles, terrapins, etc. Nor anything which is a cat’s natural prey.

4. What common pet have you always wanted but never had? Why not?
I love parrots and would love to have one. But I know little about them except that they need a lot of entertaining and I don’t think it fair to keep birds with cats.

5. What wild animal (extinct or not) would you own if you didn’t have to worry about its adjustment or the cost of captivity?
Now that’s hard. I like tigers (indeed most big cats except lions and cheetahs), but I don’t think I’d want to keep one; they’re much better in the wild. And anyway just think of the meat bills! I guess the nearest I get is parrots (see above).

[Brought to you courtesy of Friday Five]