Some pets become part of the family. Others become part of the neighborhood.

If you've ever strolled down 29th Street, chances are you've met Amara, an affectionate little cat with a big personality and an even bigger fan club.

Three summers ago, Pam Watson spent several weeks at her family's home in Pueblo, Colorado. During that visit, a tiny cat from across the street began stopping by every day. Before long, Amara was spending evenings curled up with her, and the two formed an instant bond. When Amara's owners shared they would soon be moving, they asked if Pam would consider giving the sweet cat a new home. That Christmas, Amara made the trip to Maple Ridge, and she's been winning hearts ever since.

Although her family affectionately calls her "Cutie," Amara only answers to the name she was given by her first family. She settled into her new home with ease and quickly became the unofficial greeter of 29th Street. Every day, neighbors walking through the area stop to visit her, and she's developed what her owner lovingly calls her own "fan club."

Amara is tiny but mighty. She's remarkably smart, knows how to open a door if it's left slightly cracked, and has happily ridden through the neighborhood in the bicycle baskets of local kids. Each morning, she wakes her owner with a gentle little "ma." If that doesn't do the trick, she simply stretches it into a long, dramatic "maaaaaaa" until someone gets out of bed.

One of her family's favorite memories happened on a morning when Amara decided to sleep in. Around 8:30, she suddenly heard the familiar voices of her neighborhood admirers walking past the house. She sprang out of bed, raced to the front door, insisted on being let outside, and hurried down the sidewalk to greet every member of her waiting fan club.

Though she enjoys exploring the outdoors, Amara rarely ventures far from home. She prefers keeping watch over her yard, making new friends, and welcoming anyone who stops by with a kind word or a gentle scratch behind the ears.

From a chance friendship across the street in Colorado to becoming one of Maple Ridge's most beloved neighborhood personalities, Amara proves that sometimes the smallest pets leave the biggest paw prints on a community.