My turn for the cat post. Every pregnant blogger has one. No? Those of you that read desert fete know I dote on our cat Manray to no end. But I think it would be impossible to over exaggerate how batty in love with him I am. For the past few years he has slept (almost exclusively) at night curled up with me. His head on my pillow next to mine, his little body cradled over my arm and under the blanket (like a little person), in the nook of my neck. (A dorky cat/person spooning position.) He loves being held. And it just seems to be increasing exponentially lately. I didn't relate this to the possibility that he knew something was up, until Celia mentioned it.
Poor, poor kitty. He is about to get his world rocked. His holding time is just going to go down. There is no way around it. And since we want to try out a bit of the cosleeping thing, his sleeping spot, for a while at least, will likely have to change. The other night we gave him flea medicine too late at night, so that it wasn't dry in time for bed. Since I obv didn't want that crap all over my face while I slept, I ended up convincing him to settle into a bed I made for him on his favorite blanket, on the bed between Ben and my own heads. And for the last few nights he has slept there. Which is kind of nice. Like I am weaning him* off the spooning? Of course, I am weaning him off the spooning by getting him used to sleeping in the spot that will soon be reserved for baby only. (Genius, I am.)
Maybe I should say poor me. The rational side of me knows he will be fine. He is a cat. He might be annoyed a first, but he will find a new spot to sleep, he will take the cuddles he can get, and deal with it. But the non rational side of me is worried that he is going to be so mad at the decreased attention, that he might just take up one of the many (many) offers he has for a new home. You can't have him! Unless he really wants to go. Sigh. It breaks my heart into pieces.
(I know you all shared your cat thoughts already. You don't even need to comment. I just needed to say all this while I was still pregnant. Did I really just write this long of a post about my damn cat? Issues.)
*me
They do know. It's amazing how, but they do. An old boss of mine had two cats, and one became more loving with her pregnancy and the advent of the babies, while the other grew ever more aloof, and even left their home for a bit. So, 50/50 chance, maybe? (More than that, I'm sure. It wasn't exactly a scientific study of cat behaviour!)
ReplyDeleteI'm don't think you can predict how Manray might react, but I'm pretty sure he knows you love him.
LEFT FOR A BIT? WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO TO ME?
ReplyDeleteThis is the greatest post of all time, and makes me love you so much Jamie!
ReplyDeleteaw, just think how cute it'll be when he and baby are best buds. that keeps me sane!!
ReplyDeleteIt'll work out...I commented on Celia's post. I had many cats - all rescues, each claiming me as "their person." None reacted well to the sudden appearance of a screaming baby - or later to a fast moving, noisy toddler(!)None left. All know they are safe and loved. They adjust.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I have heard from others, it seems it is much easier to successfully merge kitty and baby when there is only one cat, maybe two. More than that and they already have territorial and attention issues. The baby is new competition for space and time. One cat has less to lose.
All will be fine. You and your precious cat will adjust. And your baby will be so lucky to learn love and devotion from an early age.
Oh gosh I had flashes of Lady & the Tramp in my mind as I read this!
ReplyDeleteOk, this is the best picture ever. Manray is amazing. I'd be worried about my cat too. He's a spoiled baby who loves attention, but he'll adjust and soon you'll be a happy family of four. :)
ReplyDeleteHe came back! And Manray will never leave. That sleeping spooning is just too wonderful for him. :)
ReplyDeleteBless you both! When I was pregnant with my first our health visitor asked me about the cat and I said, 'Hopefully he won't be too put out but he doesn't like babies so I'm worried about how he'll feel...' turns out she was worried about him getting into the cot. Pffft, I thought.
ReplyDeleteI recently read something along the lines of: 'Once you're a mother the cat will just be the cat.' and after three babies I can say it is closer to the mark than I'd have thought! We no longer sleep spoons (I thought I was the only one who did this!), his lap time is reduced and he is lucky I don't forget to let him in at night. On the flip side, he has two very willing strokers and a third in training.
I think that we just worried too much about our kitties. They adapt very well...well, so far (after 24 hours with baby Alice).
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