Born on 4 April, 1965, Robert Downey Jnr (pause for swoon) is one of Hollywood’s highest paid and rated actors. 

RDJ started young (aged 5), working with parents in the business. His first film role was as a puppy in his father’s surreal movie Pound (1970). He grew up to become part of the 1980s movie Brat Pack, awash with hormones and teen angst. You couldn’t call him typecast: he’s done live theatre, television and movies; he’s done arthouse, blockbuster, franchise and the occasional clunker; he can do tough guy, romantic fool, damaged goods, superhero, tragic clown, dumb klutz, alpha brain, flawed hero, duplicitous villain, you name it. You have seen him in characters as diverse as  Charlie Chaplin, Dr Dolittle, Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes and Lewis Strauss, nuclear physicist and friend of Albert Einstein.    

It didn’t come easy though. Downey senior was a drug addict, and passed the habit on. (The downside of being a nepo.) Consequently, Downey Jr suffered several very public falls from grace throughout his caree. He spent 15 months in jail, and longer periods in rehab, yet he fought his demons off and came back every time.

So–a man with almost nine lives under his belt, effortlessly cool, charming, smart, at home in any scenario and possessing an enviable ability to fall from great heights yet right himself and stroll on nonchalantly. Remind you of anyone? (Stop preening Belvedere, it isn’t you.) Or any other species?

Of course. I do not have to spell it out. 

So yes, RDJ is a cat lover, and always has been. It’s a natural fit. He currently has two, Montgomery (black) and D’Artagnan (tabby), and is obviously besotted with them, as you can see from his regular SM posts sharing photos and talking about the pair with great affection and love. (The pic, by Beth Stern, shows Montgomery as a kitten).  

(PS I would wish RDJ happy birthday even if he weren't quite so cat oriented. Don’t tell Clowder Press.) 

For how to be more cat, and therefore approach RDJ levels of self-possession, check out Be More Cat.