What’s Halloween with black cats? While the superstitious may dread a black cat crossing their paths, I live with one that follows me into the bathroom every morning to watch me shave (I don’t know what she finds so interesting about it). Her name is Charlotte, and even though my wife and I adopted her one year ago this month as a kitten she hasn’t gotten much larger than she was when we first brought her home. Indeed, she’s so adorable that she gets away with nearly everything, often pawing at my pants legs whenever I open the fridge in the hopes that she’ll soon be receiving a slice of turkey.

I should probably amend my opening statement, though; black