Named after: Banjo player Bela Fleck; actor Bela Lugosi; the herb in mojitos; the original name of San Francisco (Yerba Buena); the Buena Vista Social Club; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, and (indirectly) Bella T. Manx

How do you pronounce it?: BAY-la. It rhymes with Eric Clapton's most famous song. It is not pronounced BELL-uh, and does not rhyme with Marlon Brando's most famous yell.

Nicknames: Dig Dug, Bela Bela, Bela T. Fleck, Spotbelly, Spotbelly Sneetch, Surfin' Bela, Bela LuKitty

Breed: Domestic Shorthair (house cat)

Born: April 4, 2002, in Arlington Heights, Illinois

Adopted by Becky: January 1, 2010, from a shelter in Huntley, Illinois. His previous owner had moved and the new place couldn't take cats. His original name was BELLA.

Coat: Brown mackerel tabby, brown and black stripes with spots on his belly and a very large black stripe down his back.

Voice: Bela meows very quietly when he does it at all.

Favorite pastimes: Sitting on top of the couch, playing with the Deadhead Toy, playing with catnip toys including his bee, chasing the wire and the feather duster, digging, burrowing under blankets, "surfing" (sitting with one paw straight out in front of him), trying to catch the broom, running around at night, sleeping, giving himself baths

Un-favorite pastimes: Bela does not like to be picked up and so far he has not sat on my lap. He likes to be right by you, but not ON you.

Favorite movies: Dracula, Bride of the Monster, anything else with Bela Lugosi

Favorite musical artists and songs: Bela Fleck, Bela Bartok, Yerba Buena, Buena Vista Social Club, Grateful Dead, KC and the Sunshine Band, "Bela Lugosi's Dead"

Least favorite musical artists and songs: Three Dog Night, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Joe Cocker, "Hound Dog," "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo," "Who Let the Dogs Out," "Black Dog," "Bird Dog," "Atomic Dog"

Favorite cat foods: Bela likes Fancy Feast, Whiskas, Meow Mix and Fancy Feast Appetizers. He prefers tuna flavor, though he'll also eat chicken. He eats Iams dry, but not as much as the wet food. Unlike Douglas, he shows no interest in people food.