FACTS ABOUT CATS
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You seem to be stumped as to the origin of the old wives’ tale about cats sucking the breath out of humans [August 17]. Perhaps I can help. Cats are often accused of being indifferent to their owners, but they simply have different ways of showing their affection. One of these is sniffing the breath of their owners. Often a cat will come sit on its owner’s lap and stick its nose in his face, inhaling whatever it was he ate for dinner. This can go on for a minute or two. I can see how this would worry Joe Medieval, who was already suspicious of felines. It goes without saying that a cat would gravitate to a baby’s milk-laden breath. Perhaps the cat also wrapped itself around the baby in a cuddly manner. The baby was probably sleeping peacefully until the parents rushed in. The result: panic, crying babies, and a lot of cats being burned at the stake for no good reason. So if there is a cat padding around your house, not to worry. They either love babies or they’re terrified of them and won’t go near. –Kathryn Ziehm, Washington, D.C.
As a passed-out drunk freshman in a Michigan State dorm room about 32 years ago, I can attest to cat breath thievery–or at least to cat-assisted attempted suffocation. Unconscious in my bunk bed, I was unaware that one of my academic neighbors had let a small stray cat into my room during the night. The next morning I awoke with really fuzzy vision and undeniably hairy tongue. Naturally I thought I had achieved a truly remarkable hangover. I raised my hands to give my eyes a serious rubbing (I was lying flat on my back), when much to my surprise I discovered a large furry growth protruding at least three inches above my face. Disorientation is not the appropriate word, but it’ll have to do. I pulled my arms back to my sides and froze while I tried to make sense of the situation. About that time the furry growth began to purr, as kitties will do when touched. EUREKA! I had a cat on my face. Totally disregarding the cat’s ability to extend its claws, I grabbed it and flung it across the room. I developed a cat fur allergy which stuck with me for 25 years, but at least it didn’t steal my breath. Cats like to cuddle up to things warm and rhythmic–I’ve seen them asleep atop operating electric motors, so it’s probably best to keep them out of nurseries. Baby’s face would be too much to resist. –Kirby Metcalfe, Dallas
MAKE THAT TWO IN EVERY CROWD
