Dr Johnson and his cat "Hodge" in a 19th C. engraving. According to Boswell, "I never shall forget the indulgence with which he treated Hodge, his cat: for whom he himself used to go out and buy oysters... when I observed he was a fine cat, [Johnson said,] 'Why yes, Sir, but I have had cats whom I liked better than this;' and then as if perceiving Hodge to be out of countenance, adding, 'but he is a very fine cat, a very fine cat indeed.'"