nightsong

1. the cat may curl up in your lap, your computer most of the time; if you reach down and give it a little scritch you'll find it is rumble purring like mad.

2. the hairballs the computer produces are contained and not wet...

3. the computer never needs water, and will never try to venture outside if the door is left open, or scale a wall on a whim

Course, the cat will never burst into flames! ( I only swear there are flames left on the carpet when the speed demon charges through.

All so true!!!

Having 5 cats, I really like that analogy.
To Aine's points: The computer doesn't throw up in the floor for you to accidentally step in on your way to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

And yeah, the chips in them things don't work right after you let the smoke out.

Also, so true!! But, if the computer does start leaving you presents in the middle of the night (smoke, broken bits, funny smells, strange noises) it's usually a sign of something a lot more dire than strategically placed hairballs. We'll be wishing for hairballs at that point!