To Terence Groening: Who says Sloan is a female name? Didn't you ever hear of General Sloan Carpenter on One Life to Live? :) I think the 'T' sound you're hearing is probably that backward hiss they make when excited. Some do it more than others. Sometimes it means they're mad, sometimes just excited. Mine do it when I try to take something away from them that they're not supposed to have. We play determined tug of war and then when I start to pry the mouth open they hiss. Debbie Riccio WNYFLFA Rochester, NY [Posted in FML issue 1258]