William Sweetser, aged 9, of Yarmouth, Me, for his question:

Is it true that Siamese cats are related to monkeys?

The slick Siamese is the smartie of the cat world. In many ways she is just as smart as a monkey. And a monkey is said to be the brain of the Animal World. But when it comes to actual kinship, the Siamese is in no way related to the monkey.

No one can pass up a handsome Siamese without a second look. Most of her thick, short coat is pale buff color. She wears a dark brown tail and long brown stockings: Her ears are dark brown and she wears a sort of dark Halloween mask over her pert face. Most striking are her bright, intelligent, sapphire‑blue eyes. She's a real beauty as well as a smartie. As a new born kitten she was almost white. She added her startling dark patches as she grew into a cat.

A Siamese cat can easily be trained to walk outdoors on a leash. She loves to retrieve toys that you throw for her. And she will figure out endless tricks for herself, even if you don't teach her. But she is a cat ‑ all cat: