Room 101 - Cats!

[Amy Z]

Neil wrote:
 
> As Mary Ann pointed out, "Room 101" is a British TV show in which 
> celebrity guests attempt to have things they hate consigned 
to "Room 
> 101".  IIRC, the origin of Room 101 is George Orwell's "1984," in 
> which Smith is forced to confront his greatest fear in that room.

That was my only association with Room 101, and so I was picturing my 
sweet kitty getting torn apart by dogs, or whatever she fears most 
(she seems pretty fearless), like Winston imagining himself mauled by 
starved rats.

Off the top of my head, cats rank pretty well in JKR's universe:

Crookshanks:  a good guy, though not the cuddliest (he does sit on 
Harry's lap during his all-nighter in GoF, very sweet)

Mrs. Norris: a holy terror (though only if you misbehave, she added 
primly)

McGonagall: obviously a goodie

Hagrid's dislike of cats is a point against them, but he does say 
it's because he's allergic

All in all, cats are looking pretty good, esp. in comparison to so 
much fiction where they are the baddies (Babe, and that awful Ginger 
in The Last Battle).

BTW, please tell me that gorgeous cat in the poster book isn't Mrs. 
Norris.  What's the matter with them--couldn't they put out a casting 
call for a scrawny, ugly cat?
 
> Neil (who enjoys cordial relations with cats, but doesn't 
necessarily 
> like them to sit on him and breathe decaying fish smells into his 
> face).

Amy (who loves for cats to sit and breathe on her)