“Popcorn! Cut it out! Mom, when will your cat stop hissing at me? Look at his back, it’s up like a Halloween cat’s.” My youngest adult son backed away, shaking his head in disgust. Dan is not the only visiting family member to receive this obnoxious welcome.

My cat, Popcorn, shows no partiality among family members; he greets them all in a despicable manner. My husband, Carl, and I are the only Cronans who receive no hisses.