More photos of Nyoman.  [View photos]

Sylvester served-and-loved us well over many years.  When he passed from kidney failure, we got ourselves a new cat from the SPCA.  While she looks like a pedigree of sorts, she's just an SPCA Blue. 

Being my third cat, we called her Nyoman, which is the name given to one's third child in Bali (called a birth order name; there are only four names used so the fifth, sixth etc child have the same name as the first, second etc).  [View photos] 

Sylvester finally graduates.  Here's a video of his final examination ... he nearly didn't make the grade as there was a little hesitation in his performance. 

Shaking hands was a bit tricky.  I don't think cats like their paws being touched but we managed to achieve this by gently shaking his paws before each meal.

The second lesson was actually easier.  Standing was achieved by holding a treat above him.  You just had to remind him "no hands" as he would try grab the food with his paw.  Ouch!

Sylvester was named after the cartoon character ... he was nearly called Pingu, aftger the penguin cartoon character but not many people knew that one.  He loves to butt heads with people.  We realised his high IQ early in the piece and started to teach him a few tricks, beginning with sitting on command.

A colleague of mine changed my life and convinced me I should have a cat.  So after a visit to the SPCA I ended up with a ginger and white cat which I named General Santos (that's a city in the Philippines).  He didn't last long and died from a recurring urinary tract infection.  We should have asked for our money back.