Loving or aloof, mischievous or cuddly — for many people, their cats are an integral part of the family. Here are extraordinary stories of some of the world’s most charismatic and captivating cats:

• Princess Kitty, dubbed “The Smartest Cat in the World,” was trained to play the piano and do 100 other incredible tricks
• ASPCA 2007 cat of the year, Winnie, led her family to a carbon monoxide leak
• Simon received the Dickin Medal for his efforts in consoling the wounded on the British navy ship HMS Amethyst
• A hospice cat named Oscar can predict patients’ deaths
• Fred, the “Undercover Kitty,” won the Law Enforcement Appreciation Award for helping to nab a fraudulent vet
• Scarlett, an incredible mother cat, damaged her eyes saving her five kittens from a New York inferno
• Smart and adventurous, Macavity caught a bus several times a week to the nearest fish and chips shop
• Lewis, nicknamed “The Terrorist of Sunset Circle,” was put under permanent house arrest after biting and scratching six neighbors
• And many more.

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Omar Mouallem Small-town resident turned urbanite Omar Mouallem has been published internationally, and his articles, movie reviews and short stories have been seen across Canada, in England and the Middle East. Omar is also a hip-hop artist who performs under the moniker “A.O.K.” (www.assaultofknowledge.com).

With his satirical and droll writing style, Omar, a bona fide cat lover, sees the humor in the fact that cats hated him. Throughout the years, all but two of his cats have run away, proving, for Omar, that his cats really don’t come back, no matter what the song says.