It seemed like fate when, on the day that my beloved cat of 6 years passed away unexpectedly, I happened to notice a "Siamese kittens" sign on the way home from work. The next day, partially to cheer myself up and partially out of curiosity, I decided to check out the kittens with my dad.

Good thing I took my dad, since the it was the kind of place I would have sped away from if I was alone. In addition to being on a secluded country property, the house looked like it came straight out of Wolf Creek, or any other horror movie involving a junkyard and a murderous, psychopathic villain.

The house was more of a log cabin dating from 1830. It was joined by not one, but two dilapitated sheds bursting with rusting farm equiptment (and I mean the kind of equiptment that looks as if it could double as torture devices). In addition to this scene, the front yard was strewn with large bones (I counted a jaw bone and a pelvic bone on my way to the door).

As it turns out, the owner of this lovely property was actually a very kind and knowledgeable breeder of siamese cats. I'm not one to purchase a pet, considering there are many animals already in existence looking for good homes (my last cat - a Tuxedo - was free, the one before - a Bengal - was from the humane society). However, after she showed us her litter, we took her business card.

Two months later, she called us to let us know that her cat had given birth to another litter. One month and $200 later, we showed up at her door to pick out our kitten. My family decided on a Chocolate Siamese cat, who now goes by the name Bansai. Two weeks later, my fiance and I picked up our own kitten, a Blue-Point Siamese named Gizmo. Two days after that, my grandparents purchased their own Chocolate Siamese, named Me-ow.

While I thought that Siamese cats were the weirdest looking, sounding, and acting cats in existence, Bansai and Gizmo (or Banzo as they are collectively called) have grown on me. Unlike my previous cats, they are extremely affectionate, preferring to sit on our laps or shoulder than sitting alone. They are very active and curious. They also carry on long, interesting conversations in their deep growls. The best part is, as they are fairly intelligent cats, they can be taught tricks, just like dogs.

Actually, the best part is making them dance to that song from Lady and the Tramp....