When we first bought and moved into our flat, Ian and I were super excited by the concept of, 'hey, I don't like that hideous old fireplace, let's ditch it' and 'that wall needs painting, we can actually do it ourselves' - renting for a while kind of ingrains you with an 'oh well, we can't do anything about it' attitude, so when you can actually change something like a paint scheme without having to ask for permission, it seems like a sudden, stolen freedom. Before this move I thought it stupid that landlords didn't trust their tenants enough to paint a wall correctly or install a light fixture - of course, after buying into a flat where the previous decor had some messed up 'under the sea'/floral theme, it makes a bit more sense.
At our flatwarming, a friend who hadn't realised we'd bought the place, constantly expressed his amazement at how we had changed things - after twigging that we didn't have a crazy lenient landlord, but rather that we ARE the landlord, his head stopped threatening to explode. He immediately asked about the prospect of a pet.
We'd considered it, of course, and agreed that the garden is too small for a dog, at least, a dog that didn't make Ian think of Paris Hilton. This category includes all dogs that aren't Alsatians or Bull Terriers.
We both liked the idea of a ferret, or ferrets, but after looking into it we decided it was a bit of a difficult pet to cut our teeth on; the concept of having to de-scent them was a bit left-field, for one.
So it was really down to a cat. Good size, doesn't need a garden but would do well in a small one, a normal sort of animal that could be put in a cattery for short periods of time when we go away.
Enter the Chairman:
Neither Ian nor I had a cat growing up, not for any particular reason, and we both think of ourselves as dog people, but after only 2 days we're officially cat people too. He's sweet as hell, quirky and mad - as I write this he's watching me type over my shoulder, and bless, he just thought it would be a good idea to touch a single claw on my cheek as an indication of how badly he wants that chocolate cookie I'm eating.
While pooping in my shoe cupboard at 4 this morning didn't make me love him any MORE, the way he's been curled napping on my neck all day is making me more and more in love with him. I think we'll let him stay.
This is a 
I am glad you called him Chairman Meow because that's the name Aiden always wants to call a hypothetical future kitten. Now that it's been reserved by you, we can go with my name choice: Meowcules!
We are NOT calling a cat Meowcules. It makes no sense!
Nat, I am now convinced that you and I share a psychic bond that makes us like the same cat names. Oh, and he's real cute!
He is so cute - like a little tiger :-)
And SNAP! I was officially not a cat person. Until I got a cat.
Will be asking Matt to take multiple photos from multiple angles next wkend. And a few of Adrian sneezing too :-)
Aw, glad you love him guys, we do too! He's really adorable.
Dan and Aiden - weird that we thought of the same name? It's not the most original - Meowcules is certainly a new one! I think the pet name test is whether you can imagine yourself calling the name into the street you live when he's missing... "MEOWCULEEEEES!!!"
NKL - you totally called it - he's bengal cross tabby, so officially half wildcat!
Meowcules? Seriously Dan?
I prefer calling my cat something I'm not ashamed to call from the doorstop. Like George for instance.
I will bring my camera just to take photos of Sevitz sneezing, never mind the cat.
Awwww... you should hear the way he complains to me when I leave him alone for an hour. The accusing stair is enough to make me never want to leave again.
I didn't think we had any stairs in our flat, nevermind any accusing ones...