Morse, affectionately known as Morsey, is the grand old lady of our feline household and a cat who knows exactly what she wants.
And, more importantly, how to get it.
Morse came into our lives as a tiny kitten, bursting with energy and mischief. From the very beginning, she was an extraordinary little character, full of curiosity and seemingly incapable of sitting still.
These days, she's a little more dignified, although her determination remains completely unchanged.
As our eldest cat, Morsey now enjoys a comfortable retirement. She has arthritis in her back and takes regular medication, but she's remarkably cooperative about it.
This wasn't always the case.
There was a time when the mere sight of her medication syringe would send her disappearing beneath the bed, well beyond anybody's reach.
Nowadays, she sits patiently and even opens her mouth, as though she's finally accepted that the medical department has her best interests at heart.
Morse also wears a soft doughnut collar to prevent her from scratching her neck. It's become such a familiar part of her appearance that I sometimes wonder whether she regards it as her own personal comfort cushion.
But her greatest luxury is undoubtedly my lap.
Interestingly, Morse wasn't always a lap cat. Over the years, however, she's decided that I am officially her person, and she now considers my lap her permanent residence.
She has an extraordinary ability to appear there without me noticing. One moment I'm talking to somebody or watching television, and the next she's comfortably installed herself, with absolutely no intention of moving.
If I stop stroking her before she's satisfied, a gentle tap from her paw reminds me that my duties are far from complete.
And when she wants feeding, she simply sits and stares.
And stares.
And continues staring until somebody finally acknowledges her requirements.
Her morning routine is equally determined. As soon as she realises I'm awake, she pushes her head against my bed net, demanding access to her personal cuddle service.
Sometimes she even joins me beside my pillow at night, perfectly content to settle close to my head.
Despite her rather regal expectations, Morse has an incredibly affectionate and sensitive side.
When Andrew was teaching and occasionally feeling overwhelmed by the demands of his work, she had a wonderful way of lifting his spirits. She would approach him and gently rub her head against him, offering quiet companionship without expecting anything in return.
She does the same with me, and those little moments of affection are particularly precious.
Morse also has a wonderful friendship with Freddie, and the two will happily settle together. Her relationship with Midnight is somewhat less harmonious, although thankfully their disagreements have become less frequent.
She's particularly fond of a gentle grooming session and enjoys having her back softly rubbed, especially when she's feeling a little stiff.
Morse may be getting older, but her personality is as strong as ever. She's affectionate, determined, occasionally demanding and quite convinced that the household should operate according to her personal requirements.
And as Head of Feline Affairs & Executive Comfort Services, she takes her responsibilities extremely seriously.
Particularly when it comes to ensuring that my lap is never left unoccupied for too long.