Oh, it was a good thing he'd asked. He absolutely would have accidentally done the wrong thing, due to not knowing any better. He had the calm part down, at least, and stepped closer to offer out his hand for sniffing. "And here I thought dogs were the only ones who wanted to smell you, first." And maybe cats? But he'd never had a cat, or knew anyone who had a cat.

He was charmed, utterly charmed, by the time he gently pressed his palm against Missy's neck to start petting. "She's softer than I expected." A little coarse, but a lot softer than he'd been imagining.