Mariella Vitale, whose crocheted micro animals and bears continually delight the eyes with their detail, has a ginger cat that so far has not really helped her in her work.

"Well, she won't learn to crochet, so she's not a help there!" Mariella laughs "and if she wants to go out she doesn't meow. Instead she jumps on my worktable, stares at me, and waits. Unless there is something interesting to play with, then…. well, let's just say she's not very helpful!"

Mariella's cat does have a very unique trick though.

"Oh, yes, she loves to sit on my drying rack on top of the freshly washed clothes!"

This Ginger cat is obviously not the kind of cat with a temperament for dressing up, but Mariella is able to transform her now and then.

"When she sleeps I smooth down her ears. It makes her look like a little rabbit!"

There aren't any special treats for her cat, but occasionally, there is some trickery involved regarding her food.

"If she doesn't like the food I buy her I spread a little Parmesan cheese over it and then she licks the bowl clean!" Hmm. With a smart cat like Mariella's one wonders who is tricking whom?