But after winning the best long-hair entire cat award in the national judging ring at the National Cat Show in Christchurch yesterday, the Irish Maine Coon's staff/co-owners Zena Pigden and Elizabeth Currie are inclined to agree.
``But when it's time for dinner, we still just call him Simara,'' Mrs Pigden assured.
``Being a breeding cat, he does live in a degree of confinement, because if we didn't keep him in quarters, he would be off after the girls, he might disappear for months at a time, get into fights with rough cats . . .
``So he gets treated a little bit like royalty.''
Mrs Pigden, of Dunedin, was ``proud, excited and over-the-moon'' yesterday when it was announced Simara had won one of the top national awards.
``We couldn't believe it when it happened.
``We just think he's an amazing cat.
``He's contributed so much to our breeding programme already by siring wonderful kittens with great temperaments, and here he is walking away with a great show award as well.''
She described him as a loving and friendly cat that was far from shy around other people - traits that come in handy when you are a celebrity.
``He's quite an extrovert. He loves showing - he's a real show-off.
``He's very talkative too. He has things to say about most things. He responds when I talk to him.''
So what did Simara have to say about the win?
``By the end of the day, I'm pretty sure he was saying, `I've had enough and I'd like to go home now - honestly, don't these people know who I am?''' Mrs Pigden said.
``You could tell from the tone of his voice that he was getting a bit testy.''
Fortunately, all the prizes had been awarded.
