Ahh!
So you know already. That's a relief.
They also don't have thumbs or lips, and they're covered all over with fur... and they don't speak the same language as humans. But their whiskers and paws are really cute.
--Did that sound condescending? I'm sorry!

[ by now, for what it's worth, he has certainly noticed the similarities between Leon, his beloved cat-eared-and-tailed boss... and Shui here...
but he's also pretty sure assuming there's some kind of connection would be racist. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ]