Photograph by Wallace Kirkland, Illinois, 1945. Source: LIFE Photo Archive.

Two young girls from inner city of Chicago playing with kittens and talking to a farmer during their stay on a farm that is part of the “Adventures in Brotherhood” experiment being conducted by a Presbyterian church.

Photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt, 1944. Source: LIFE photo archive, hosted by Google.

Author W. Somerset Maugham (L) sitting with poet Max Eastman (R) and holding ‘Celestial’ and ‘Thistle,’ Eastman’s Persian cats, with ‘Frosting,’ Eastman’s white collie, at their side during Maugham’s summer on Cape Cod.

“Ettie relaxing on her bed reading Esquire, with her cat and phone close by.”  Photograph by George Silk, Shanghai, China, 1946. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

George Silk, Los Angeles cat show, 1952. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

Loran Smith: Seeing Eye Cat, February 1947. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

“An old woman working in the old fashioned kitchen while the young girl plays with her kitten.” Photograph by Bernard Hoffman, Maine, 1942. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

“Composer Alan Hovhaness, working in score littered studio with black cat nestling amongst the papers on the piano.” Photograph by Gordon Parks, December 1955. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

“Wartime Railroading: Operator-Leverman Baker acting as junction traffic director with help of cat, Tom.” Photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt, Yemassee Junction, South Carolina, 1942. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

Ralph Crane, Black Cat Auditions In Hollywood, 1961. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

Photograph by Joseph Scherschel, Graham, Texas, 1955. Source: LIFE Photo Archive, hosted by Google.

Blondie, the pet lion, fascinated by the water as she takes her first ride in a Chris Craft Continental inboard motorboat w. owner Charles Hipp (R) who is making sure she doesn’t have designs on taking a swim, on Possum Kingdom Lake.