"But kittens are better," Casey said with a smile. She nodded her agreement; kittens were better than puppies and smarter too, better conversationalists. She laughed as the kitten on her shoulder turned his head and bit at her ear, nibbling on the lobe and muttering about how he wanted more attention from his mother. Casey had kind of been unofficially adopted by the kittens given that she knew what they wanted and needed and spent more time with them than was probably healthy.
What? Animals, on the whole, were nicer than humans. They weren't as sucky or weird or mean.
"You know you can come here and play with them any time you want to. They love having someone to come and talk to them and play with them, social little things that they are." She lifted a shoulder and winced a little as claws dug in to keep the kitten balanced. "Ouch, let go," she said, tone commanding and the kitten - surprisingly, perhaps - did so instantly and then miaowed an apology. It licked underneath Casey's ear and then bit it again.