You know the letter that Harry found in Sirius' room? and how it mentioned a cat and Harry was wondering what happened to it? Well, I pictured teh cat as a black one just because that's the stereo-typical cat for witches and wizards. But what if the cat was ginger, with a squashed face, and, part kneazle? What if teh Potter's cat was a Crookshanks. That would explain how he knew Sirius and why Sirius trusted him.
Or the cat might have been Proffessor McGonagall.