You are like Shadow, then, Noelle.
She's afraid that Sheba (a nearly thirteen-year-old blue-point Siamese) would scratch her if she brushed her. But, yet, Sheba knows better than mess with me.
On-topic, I'd might consider an owl . . . but, chances are I'd pick a male Siberian tiger over that. . . . I think they live longer than owls, too -- I know the tigers can live up to two+ decades . . .