This is going to be sad so don't read on if you're not prepared.
My darling dad was serving in corvettes in WW2. One night, Battle Stations was sounded and he stormed down the stairs to his gun position, sea boots on of course, and stood on the ship's kitten. Broke its back.
He adored cats but could never live with one after that. Which is why I got Seniorboy. He couldn't get enough of being told about SB - and I brought Seniorboy to be with him when he passed.