Jeff,
great cat shots! I love the portrait style but I have to agree with your wife about the environmental image. Outstanding.
I find cats, in general, are easier to shoot if you let them decide where they want to be rather than placing them in a studio set-up where they don't want to be. I give them the "sit. stay." command but it doesn't work as well as with the dogs

.
The eye detail in the portraits of Norman is really nice.
Jim