University of Virginia freshman, Betty Grey Waring, dotes on her family cat, Bleu, while home on their 500-acre grain farm in Tappahannock, Va. "Pets were important to our family, both dogs and cats," said Anne Frost Waring, sister of Betty Grey Waring." "But cats were and still are our 'soul mates'. When we were growing up, our cat 'Tippy,' who was white with black spots, had numerous litters of kittens. We found homes for every one of them. We also played 'dress up' and put those poor kittens in our pocketbooks, hanging out of the end for dear life. One of our favorite kittens was a striped tabby whom we named Tommy. We just adored him. When he was given to a cousin who lived down the road, a big discovery was made. Tommy was a girl and had to undergo a name change." Anne Frost Waring is a communications manager for the Virginia Commonwealth's Department of Human Resource Management.