Conference misery::feline

    I had a tiger (?) called Target (because of the concentric circles on
    his flank) that I got as a very young kitten.  He was found wandering
    around the parking lot at work, in the middle of winter, wearing a
    beat-up (very old) pink collar, and someone brought him in because they
    thought he might get run over.  An ad in the paper brought no
    claimants, and I had the pleasure (which I only realized much later) of
    becoming a kitten owner (folks in the office figured he was dropped
    near our building in a shady neighborhood figuring he'd get a good home
    - they were right!)
    
    I don't how rough his short life could have been, but he did fall
    asleep on my arm for several hours that first night.  But there is no
    doubt that he "bonded" with me.  When I left in the morning, he would
    quietly sit in the middle of the kitchen as I closed the door, and when
    I returned in the evening, he would be in the exact same spot,
    obviously not having moved an inch for 10 or more hours.  
    
    He would then follow me from room to room, and curl up in my lap while
    I watched TV.  We would then go to bed, and he would crawl under the
    covers and sleep between my legs, until sometime in the middle of the
    night, because whenever I woke up, he was always sprawled across my
    throat, not choking me, just warming my neck.
    
    No other cat I have owned or had contact with was ever so affectionate
    and loyal.  And besides that, he was totally obedient.  The only time
    he cried was when I went out the "wrong" door to get the mail (he
    figured out that I always came back from work, but he got nervous when
    I went to get the mail) or when I showered, because I locked him out. 
    Had to.  He insisted on showering WITH me, sometimes trying to get
    closer to me using the shower curtain as a ladder, which didn't work
    too well.  But he had no fear of water.  He figured if it was okay with
    me, it was okay with him.
    
    Whenever I told him "no", not only did he stop what he was doing, but
    he NEVER did it again!  He was even trained not to touch my desk.  He
    loved to sun in the window my desk faced, but he learned ways to get
    there without leaving paw prints on my papers.
    
    Lastly, whenever we drove somewhere, his first stop would be the back
    window.  But eventually he would get lonely and let me know.  I'd
    simply invite him to curl around my neck, which he would do, and then
    he would fall asleep until we reached our destination.
    
    I've been hesistant to get another cat (we already have a Persian)
    because I don't think I'll ever find a more loving and lovable feline
    "friend" again.
    
    Jim 
    

    reply to 801.
    
    I think it's definately a security thing (or bonding if you will).
    
    My 9 yr old Siamese, who was brutely abandoned at 6months or so, has
    always slept on my (and now my husband's) legs, between or behind the
    knees.
    Jas (short for Jasamir) always reflects the mood of the house, a real
    thermometer of my cloudy or sunny days. When I'm in my tense or black
    moods, he approaches me once to feel me out, then stays at
    pillow-throwing distance and meows in that delightful tone he uses just
    to antagonize me..     then sleeps on my husband.
    When I'm hurting, sad or when I'm happy - without tension, he sleeps
    on me.
    
    I have noticed that he too goes through moods. For the past three weeks,
    he HAS to be in physical contact with someone at most times.
    I wonder if this isn't actually for warmth aswell as security.
    
    I can't even go to the bathroom w/out him headbutting the door, and/or
    climbing into my lap. Between he and the baby, I've turned into a
    Jungle Jim.
    
    As much as he agrivates me at times, he is so sweet when he sleeps.
    I love putting my finger into his paw, and feel him curl his pads
    around the tip..and we just sit and hold paw/hand together.
     

    This is definately a fun topic!!  I have so many cats that I think I 
    have seen about everything.
    
    Most babies will always come when you make stupid sounds or motions,
    hug you and cling to you for dear life (but not in fear), and seem to
    be attached by an umbilical cord.  As they grow older they can become a
    tad more independant.  I have a few cats that have never outgrown this.
    Chessie being the most famous of them!  She will climb, hop, fling
    herself at you so she can flatten out on your chest and nuzzle you
    under the chin with her head for hours.  This morning alone, when
    feeding time came, she decided it was her turn to stay in bed with mom. 
    Each day there is one cat that stays with me for that special time. 
    Usually they climb under the covers and spoon with me.  Rolling with
    you and purring the whole time.  Chessie is now two years old and will
    never change this habit.
    
    Calais who is a whole male, is as bendable and lovable as a rubber
    pretzel.  Follows you everywhere and comes almost all the time when you
    call.  Last weekend he climbed under my nite gown up to the back of my
    head and stuck his nose out the neck hole.  This is how we slept.  He
    loves you to hold him like a baby.
    
    Stinky likes to cuddle occasionaly, but his thing is that he is the
    ONLY cat that can sleep on the pillows next to my head.  This is the
    unspoken law in my house with all the cats and is understood by all
    except the youngest.  They learn pretty quick I might add!
    
    I have to say that even tho I have only mentioned a couple of my cats,
    this breed is without a doubt the most loving and devoted of all that I
    know.  They calm down with age but never outgrow a strong bond to their
    human.  They can be depended on for sympathy, warmth and understanding.
    They can entertain you for hours just by being so beautiful inside and
    out.
    Karen 
    who sleeps with an average of 8 a nite.  Try prying all those cats off
    in a hurry!

    I have noticed the same thing!  I have two girls (one is 2 1/2 and the
    other is around 3 months old) and they both have gone through
    the same type of patterns.
    
    I found Mandy--the older one--in a laundromat while I was in college 
    about two years ago.  She was dirty and full of fleas and VERY skinny.
    I took her home (didn't even put up "found" signs--if she was owned, they
    didn't deserve her!) I took her home and bathed and nursed her into the
    healthy, rambunctious thing she is today. Ever since the first night
    I got her, she has demanded to sleep ON my head. She kneads my hair and
    purrs until she falls asleep--then about five minutes after falling
    asleep she jumps to the floor to stretch out.  This was fine when I
    had long hair, but now when I cut it short it sometimes got painful!  I
    put up with it though (do we have a choice?) because I love the
    contact.  I also love the sounds cats' purrs make as they sputter out
    and fall asleep.
    
    Unfortunately, Mandy won't sleep with me now that I've gotten
    Moxie--the baby.  I'm hoping that she'll start up again when they get
    more friendly, but I'm not so sure.  The baby MUST sleep with me--and I
    really don't mind!  She always has to be up around my face, and is
    usually around my neck. She's very warm and comfortable--the only times
    it gets uncomfortable is when I'm laying on my side and she comes to
    lie down by my head and smothers my face.  She's very pliable, though--
    so I can usually move her to a spot better suited to my breathing!  I
    miss Mandy when I sleep, and hope that she'll come back when they get
    more used to each other.
    
    I've had the baby for around a month and a half now, and they play
    better with each other every day! They have finally started wrestling
    and are really entertaining to watch.  Moxie follows Mandy around and
    has set her goals to climb to every place that Mandy can. I think
    pretty soon she'll have it mastered--she's such a little monkey.
    
    I can't wait for the time when they curl up together! If they ever
    will...
    
    Alicia

    Hmmm...interesting topic which got me thinking!!!  With as many
    cats as I have...the only pattern I have noticed is that normally
    by the time my husband comes to bed, there is NO ROOM so he goes
    and sleeps on the coach!!!
    
    I find with my cats...it's pretty much "first come...first serve"
    and if one leg is taken...they'll just take the other...if that one
    is taken...they'll just lean on some part of my body!!! If my body
    is all taken...they go hunt down my husband!!!  I do have
    a few exceptions such as Abby MUST sleep by my head and lean on 
    my pillow.   If another cat has taken her spot....she is completely
    restless until she gets it!!!  And then I have my big guy JC...who
    hates the waterbed; therefore he never sleeps with me!!
    
    I also noticed that I have ALOT more cats on my bed since the
    cooler weather is back!!!  I just love the feeling of fur....
    
    Sandy

    As the author of a previous reply, I must hang my head in shame.
    801.5 mentioned the 1 thing I never mentioned. The thrill of a fur fix.
    That's why I got cats to begin with. The tingle of silky fur.
    The shimmer of golden strands in the setting sun, the softness of the
    sleek coat against my cheek.
    I need a fur fix bad....... can't wait to get home to my pseudo mink
    and to let him wrap himself around my collar.
    
    

    
    The details change from night to night, but there are some themes.
    
    Old Merlin tries to sleep as close to my face as possible.  If I roll
    over on my back, he will take up his favorite position on my chest,
    nose to nose.  This eventually wakes me up, as his whiskers tickle.
    I roll over, he rolls off, and after a few cycles of this, he settles
    down alongside me, usually on the LLBean catbed nearest my head.
    Sometimes he will ask to be taken under the covers to snuggle
    spoonstyle against my chest.
    
    Robin will climb on top of me regardless of my orientation, sometimes
    pushing Merlin aside to do so.  Of course, that means I was on my back,
    and before Robin can lie down she has to make bread on my belly, with
    her butt in my face.  Trying to turn her around is futile (besides,
    then she'd probably just make bread on my face), so I roll over, and
    she tries to get comfortable on my side.  When Robin gets comfy and
    her purr box gets fully warmed up, she drools.  There's really nothing
    quite like trying to get to sleep with Robin kneading my chest with
    her razor sharp talons, purring up a storm, drooling on me...
    
    Rocky's more reasonable - he'll settle for just being near my head,
    though sometimes he'll stretch a paw out to touch me.  Rocky
    occasionally decides I need to be groomed, and licks my face,
    especially my mouth.
    
    Floyd will fit himself in anywhere he can, usually between Rocky and
    Merlin.  Sometimes he'll sleep on my pillow, above my head.
    
    Blueberry's the most sensible.  She sleeps on the doubled up LLBean
    catbed (there are three of them, but all three won't fit on the bed
    with me in it, so two of them get stacked up at night).  Sometimes
    she feels she needs to get close, or that my hair needs washing.
    With her plush coat and voluptuous body, Blueberry's the nicest one
    to snuggle spoonstyle with.
    
    So it usually takes a while to get stable, and the first arrival on the
    bed varies from night to night.  Not everybody sleeps in the same place
    every night, except me.
    
    At least I can count on this being an understanding audience...
    
    len.
    

    Since most of our cats sleep on the bed at one time or another during
    the night, my wife and I got a king-size bed.  But the kitties sleep
    right next to us regardless of the bed's size.  We still have the same
    amount of room we had before -- not much!!
    
    We've had all six of our furry crew since they were babies.  Cally
    must sleep on the feet end of the bed.  Mocha and Blue Buri must sleep
    between legs up near the crotch, whichever crotch is unoccupied.  Mai
    Buri and Newton must sleep under the covers.  Newton must have not only
    body contact, but also hand contact.  If one of us does not rest a hand
    on him, he'll bite the handiest fingers until he gets what he wants.
    Between finger bites, he'll cry what sounds like "wa-wa".  When finally
    one of us puts a hand on him, he purrs very loudly and we can feel his
    body relax.
    
    Chowder doesn't get along well with Mai Buri, Blue Buri, or Newton, so
    she sleeps in the cat tree in another room, but I think she wishes she
    could come sleep on the bed with everyone else.  We try to bring her to
    bed with us, but she hisses at the others and runs back to the tree.
    
    Carl

    Sandy reminded me....
    I wasn't going to mention it before, but as some of you are probably
    asking, where do the other ten sleep???  On the couch of course with
    Jimmy!  There's no room in the bed for him.  And yes, no matter how big
    a bed you get, they are all on you!!!
    This is gettin' weird
    Karen

    Smokey sleeps on me only if it is cold in the room (wintertime). My
    mom's siamese sleeps always with her under the blanket, her other on
    the blanket at her bed.
    
    But Smokey comes almost immediately on our lap if we sit down...
    
    Nat

    Well,  Shadow sleeps on my pillow directly above my head.   She lays
    her head on my head and purrs away.   Especially now that the weather
    is cooling off.   Julie, the dog, is jealous.  She wants to sleep on
    the bed too, but she is just too big.  So she waits untill the early
    hours of the morning, when we are sound asleep and she hops up on the
    foot of the bed.
    
    

    The first cat I rescued was abandoned with a litter of kittens in a
    cardboard box.  Unfortunately the kittens died but I started playing
    with the cat and smuggling it into our house.(I was only 8 yrs old at
    the time).
    
    My mum and dad did not like cats, we had a dog which hated cats as
    well, but after pleading and begging for a few weeks they relented in
    so much as they said I could bring the cat into the house during the
    day, feed it etc but she had to go out at night.  They also had her
    spayed, injections etc.
    
    Anyway for about three months they opened the front door every night
    and put her out.  A couple of minutes later I would hear a meoow at the
    bathroom window, I would get up, let her in and she slept on my bed. 
    My mum and dad soon realised what was going on and decided to give up
    on the rules, we were obviously too smart for them.  She slept on my
    bed for 16 years.
    
    Now I'm married with two cats who sleep together on top of the quilt 
    next to our feet.  On really cold nights Floyd climbs under the quilt
    and sleeps pressed against my stomach.  I think having your cats next
    to you at night is one of the most companionable things about having
    them.
    
    Kirsty 
          

    the Honorable Colonel Sebastian Moran,DROFFC, sleeps on the top left half
    of the queen sized bed, all stretched out and purring loudly. His
    personal dog, a 32 pound terrier cross, is permitted to sleep curled up 
    at his feet. The 200 pound St.Bernard and his mother are allowed to share 
    the other half of the bed. Good thing I'm firm with him or Rumpole and 
    I would be on the floor with my elderly Saint, who won't sleep on the
    bed any more for fear of getting puppy cooties from Rumpole.
    
    Sari