<Just how many animals of the 'cat' type are there?>

<Hell if I know. Lots. Mostly you just hear about the domesticated kind, though; if somebody says 'cat', that's usually what they mean. People keep 'em as pets. They hunt little squeaky things where little squeaky things are a problem, and otherwise they're just cute.>

<...What kind of problem do little squeaky things present?>

<Eating things they shouldn't, I think.>

<Ah,> says Ax, though he continues to seem puzzled.

"Little squeaky things like mice, Ax," clarifies Andi.

<Do humans not approve of the mouse named Mickey?>

"Turns out," says Andi, aiming her remark at Trouble, "it is kind of hard to do just an overview of human culture for an alien."

"Yeah, but would it have occurred to you to say so when you were explaining what Disney is?" Andi asks, burying her hands in his fur.

<Disney makes fictional movies out of drawings displayed at high framerate,> says Ax helpfully.

<I dunno, I just did. It was harder than I thought.>

<Image thoughtspeak is more difficult to master, yes. Andalites vary in how good we are at it; I don't know about humans.>

<Seems like it could come in really handy, though.>

<It can, yes.>

Ax hesitates, but when Andi lifts up kitty-Trouble in his direction, a many-fingered hand tentatively joins hers.

Trouble is very soft, very fluffy, and very purring.

<Why are you vibrating?>

<A peculiar adaptation,> remarks Ax.

"An adorable adaptation."

<Yep,> says Trouble, purring some more.