Owen and Purna (the Cat)

A Present for Owen, a Present (Box) for Purna

As a pregnant person, and now as a mother, I often am asked about the interactions between cats and babies. There are a lot of old wives tales out there - about cats "sucking the breath" out of babies, for example, and smothering them, and licking the milk out of their mouths. And a lot of people believe these tales to be true, so much so, that I spend a surprising amount of time defending my cats and insisting that I am not going to give them away.

Arlo, admittedly, has been a tad jealous of the baby, but Arlo is scared of Owen, too. There is no need to fear Arlo sucking Owen's breath away.

Purna is in love with Owen. As I write, Owen is lying on his floor mat, taking a nap. Purna is sitting two feet away from Owen, watching him sleep. She brought her toy mouse over and placed it with Owen's toys.

When Owen sleeps in the cosleeper next to our bed, Purna stretches out on the bed, preventing anyone from climbing or reaching into the cosleeper with Owen.

When Owen cries, and it takes us a little too long to get to him (or we can't calm him down), Purna comes and finds us. One time it was taking me too long for her liking, and she stood up on her hind legs and pushed on my thigh. Usually, though, she cries, too.

When Owen gets his diaper changed, Purna watches to make sure everything goes well.

It's very satisfying to have your animal become so protective of your child. So no, I am not giving my cats away in order to keep them separate from Owen. Instead I will let Purna's catnip mouse toy mingle with Owen's stuffed mushroom toy. Owen and Purna are becoming friends, and I'm glad for it.