Most teenagers are talkative. Taz or "Tazmo" is no exception. She's 171/2 years old, which in cat years is getting up there yet she is said to "look and feel much younger than her age." She's the proud owner of Debbie Daschner and Ed Busey and she loves to talk.

"She has a cat door, but she will go stand by the front door until we let her out," said Daschner, "Or she will demand that we open a closed closet door." Taz has a number of stuffed animals and has some regular routines. This year she's already brought out the "Summer Mouse" which while not as reliable an indicator as a certain groundhog could mean an early spring. Taz will come when called and almost always responds in a conversation, usually getting her way. "She didn't read the book about how cats are independent," Busey said.