Have you ever heard the Urban Legend that cats should never sleep with babies? I have and I took that seriously when Abbey was very young, although I never really understood why. I made sure to keep my cat, Figaro, out of the crib when she was asleep. I told myself that he did not want to sleep in the crib anyway. After all, Figaro had the entire guest bedroom to himself. He could always be seen sleeping at the top of the bed, curled up into a little ball all snug and warm, purring away.

It was not until Abbey grew too big for her crib that I understood what that saying was all about. The entire time Abbey was sleeping in the crib, she never slept with a pillow. In the crib, she would lie on her back, with her thumb in her mouth and her head turned to one side, her little body covered with baby blankets for warmth. No pillows were ever in the crib, just baby blankets and the occasional small stuffed animal. As soon as Abbey moved from the crib to her bed I noticed a change in Figaro’s sleeping habits. As I was making Abbey’s bed for the first time, I was so excited as I put the featherbed on. I was thrilled as I covered the featherbed with new pink sheets, and as I folded the hospital corners on the flat sheet I was ready to jump in for a little nap myself. I was beaming as I put on her brand new down blanket and so pleased with myself as I lofted her new all down pillow and placed it at the top of the bed. I was busting with excitement and could not wait until it was nap time. Abbey was going to love this bed! This was going to be the most comfortable bed in the world and I knew it….and so did Figaro. No sooner was the bed made when Figaro came right into the room, jumped up onto the bed and curled his furry black body at the top of Abbey’s brand new bed. He was lying smack dab in the middle of her brand new down pillow! All of the shooing in the world would not keep him away from this particular pillow or from his girl Abbey.

If you ask me, I think that the Urban Legend should be rewritten. “Once your cat discovers your all down pillows, your night’s sleep will never be the same. Oh, and pillows should not be used in a crib.” To this day, almost six years later, you can find Abbey sleeping in her bed lying on her back, head turned to one side, covered with her down blanket and her head on her down pillow with Figaro right next to her. We’re still working on the thumb.

Sweet dreams,
Susan