'Do you have any pets?' one of my classmates asked me during our recent college reunion.

'No. But why do you ask?'

'We are thinking of going for a pet. Just can't seem to be making up our mind about whether to get a cat or a dog.'

That set me thinking. Am I a dog person or a cat person? It's a theoretical question, of course, because I know that I won't ever have a pet - though I admire cats and dogs from a distance.

So, theoretically speaking, I would go for a dog. I think that cats are self-centered animals. They expect a lot from their owners but don't love them as much as a dog would do. I know, those who have cats at home would have an entirely different opinion. :-) But I think a dog is more invested in his owners. I like that.

And I certainly would go for a Labrador. I just love their look, their shiny fur and the way they carry themselves about.  There is this dog, a bitch actually, who I see during the course of my evening walks. A servant walks her in the park. On one or two occasions, I have seen how patiently she waits while he removes the leash and then starts her rounds across the park - turning quite a few heads. She clearly knows that people admire her and is very comfortable with all the adulation. :-)

So a dog it would be. At least that's what I thought till I spotted a kitten with its mother in our neighborhood. The tiny one looked absolutely adorable and I couldn't help but smile as it opened its tiny mouth to meow. Definitely a Kodak moment!

It's a tough decision then - one I am glad I will never have to make.