I remember reading an article decades ago, when I was in the pet business (I think it was in Psychology Today) about pet owners. They theorized that the reason most cats are owned by women and most dogs are owned by men is because men like animals which will obey commands, and women don't insist on that. Being a guy and a cat owner, does that mean I'm less manly? It's not very flattering for men. But then, my other RL pets are tropical fish, which also don't obey my commands. My character has birds that I should be worried about..........well, maybe not. After all, they are ostrichs. My RL cat is affectionate. Maybe not as openly as a dog would be, but when he rubs against my leg, or lays down in my lap and starts purring - it just makes ya feel good. He may not be as uncontrollable with his licking, but when he's really affectionate, I get my share of that sandpaper tongue.