Probably the most famous feline of the Mercury cat family was Delilah, a big, tri-colored tabby, adopted in late 1987. As the lyrics to her song state (and Freestone’s book confirms), she completely took over the house and pretty much did whatever she pleased. “She was a real character, that lady!” agreed Smith. “Delilah was just kind of funny. She was a bit of a bully to the others, but was always first on his lap, first for food.” Jim Hutton, the singer’s boyfriend of seven years, recognized their special bond as well. He described Delilah as “the little princess” of their home, “the one he’d pick up and stroke the most often.” And if that wasn’t enough, “she’d sleep at the foot of the bed, before slipping out for a nighttime prowl.”