I love you, my little boy.
Hi, I’m Nicole! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my distinguished Burmese, Mr. Baby Cat.
I grew up with a feline sibling, but neither of my parents are cat people (they adopted him solely for me), so we had a lot of rules and regulations around his access to the house.
It didn’t bother me so much, though. While I love animals, I do think boundaries are necessary, despite what you may think if you saw our current sleeping arrangements (dogs are not allowed on the bed, but somehow, we wake up with the two of them next to us every morning).
I was thinking about this the other day when we took our whole circus on holiday. How many things do I do now as a parent that I never thought I’d do? Too many. It all started with Baby Cat, and I have gotten more and more relaxed as the years have gone on and the family keeps growing. I imagine any pet parents reading this would feel the same, but if you don’t, tell me your secrets!!
And if you’re thinking about getting a cat, it’s probably best to prepare yourself for some of the things you never dream you’ll do – you may not end up doing all of them, but I am sure at least one of the habits below will make it on your list.
Top 10 Things I Never Thought I’d Do As a Cat Parent:
1. Talking to My Cat Like a Baby
Before I became a cat parent, I always found it strange when people spoke to their pets in a high-pitched, sing-song voice. It seemed unnecessary and a little silly. But now, I catch myself doing it all the time! Whether I’m greeting my cat in the morning, asking him how his day was, or just telling him how cute he is, I’ve become that person who talks to their cat like a baby. And the truth is, I love it. It’s a way of bonding, and I swear Baby Cat responds better when I talk to him this way. The cutesy voice and pet names have amplified with each new baby we welcomed into our home, so I have just embraced it and know it is a part of me now.
2. Wear Clothing With My Cat’s Face On It
Taking Baby Cat with us around the globe in bathing suit form.
For my birthday one year, my husband bought me a bathing suit with Baby Cat’s face on it. Best present ever. It was so we could take it with us while we were traveling so we could feel like he was with us. I never thought I’d be the person who would rep their fur baby on their clothes, and thought it was a bit cheesy, but I still have the swimsuit and I still love it, and I will wear clothing with photos of my fur babies for many many years to come. Highly recommend it.
3. Making Up and Singing Silly Songs
I play the piano and have always loved to sing and perform, but I never thought I’d find myself composing, covering, and performing the sheer volume of songs that I do. Being a cat parent has unleashed my inner performer! Baby’s name is such a good one for cover songs, songs like “Baby” by Justin Bieber, “Always Be My Baby” by Mariah Carey, and “Baby Got Back” by Sir Mix-A-Lot top the charts, but there are dozens, if not hundreds more. Plus, we write original songs about everything from feeding time to naptime to toilet time, often narrating Baby’s actions or just expressing how cute he is. These little tunes are often ridiculous, but they bring a lot of smiles to us, and it has helped us to identify which of our friends love him most (the ones who also sing to him, including their own renditions of our originals, and making originals of their own!). It’s such a fun and lighthearted way to bond, and it adds a touch of joy to our daily routine.
4. Sharing My Space (And My Bed)
Baby Cat taking up as much room in the bed as a person.
I used to be very particular about my personal space, especially when it came to my bed. My cat growing up was allowed ON my bed, but not in it with me. But literally from the moment Baby Cat came into the picture, our bed has become his bed too (unless there’s a fire or heater for him to sleep beside). My husband and I have been contorting into all sorts of uncomfortable positions for years just to give him enough room to sleep. He’s like a teddy bear with a heartbeat and loves to snuggle under the covers with us, and it is such a lovely reminder that he loves us (or at least our body heat).
5. Obsessing Over Litter Box Habits
Before having a cat, I never imagined I’d spend so much time thinking about litter or another creature’s toileting habits. But as a cat parent, monitoring the litter box has become a regular part of my routine. I’ve become attuned to the frequency, texture, and even the odor of what’s in the box, all in the name of ensuring Baby Cat’s health. Any slight change can send me into a spiral of research, worrying about whether something might be wrong. My Google history would show more about cat poop and butts than probably any other topic (I kid, but it’s more than I would have thought necessary before I was a cat parent).
6. Prioritizing My Cat’s Comfort Over My Own
Stuck here for hours, how could you move with a snuggly little nugget like that.
Whenever I am seated and Baby Cat comes over to lay on my lap, I struggle to get up. We often joke that once he falls asleep on someone, ‘that’s you for the day, good luck!’ He just gets so cute and comfy that it’s hard to want to disturb him. Whether it’s me or my husband stuck underneath the cat, the other will do all the running around, bringing food and water to the stuck one to ensure maximum comfort for our little baby boy. The funniest part of this all is that we don’t do the same for the dogs or the human baby. For some reason, it just makes us so sad if the little dude is disturbed, his comfort comes first!
7. Taking My Cat on Road Trips
When we were growing up, we never took our dog or cat on a single family holiday, we always had house sitters. So, that’s what I grew up thinking was the norm. Even the first couple times we went away after Baby Cat joined our family, we either left him alone for a night or two (he was very happy with this in his young age and had a cat door and roaming access in our neighborhood), or we got housesitters. It wasn’t until about a year after we got him that we decided to try our first road trip together, and he LOVED it. This was the first of many, and to this day, we’re still taking him on road trip adventures.
8. Taking Endless Photos and Videos
So many photos…
Before I became a cat parent, I didn’t understand why people were so obsessed with taking pictures of their pets. When Baby was our only baby, our phones were littered of photos of him doing absolutely nothing, and dozens of the same pose from different angles. We did get a few super cute ones, of course, but for the most part, it was just pictures for the sake of pictures because he is so darn cute. I don’t regret it for a second, though—every moment feels worth capturing. We do this with all of the babies in the house now, but I do wish I would maybe take less of the same photo and more quality instead of quantity. I’m working on it!
9. Worrying Like Crazy
I never thought I’d worry so much about a cat, but Baby Cat turned me into a bit of a worrier in the early days. It’s gotten better with the additional family members we’ve brought home, but even still, when he’s not acting like his usual self, I’m all over it. Is he bored? Is he stressed? I’ve spent a lot of money on vet bills just to be sure he’s okay. I’m glad this has evened out, because it was definitely overwhelming for the first few years we had him.
10. Fashioning a “Baby Carrier” For My Clingy Boy While I Cooked Dinner
Homemade Baby-Cat Bjorn
There was one point in our life where Baby Cat became extra clingy. My husband and I were working longer hours and we had just downsized to a one-bedroom apartment from a three-bedroom house to help us prepare for our world travel plans, and Baby knew what was happening. I ended up having to use scarves to fashion a Baby carrier so I could hold him while I cooked dinner, he would just snuggle up and fall asleep on me. It was so silly but so adorable, the poor little guy was worried about the changes coming his way and I was happy to be able to help pacify it with extra snuggle time.
11. Experiencing Unconditional Love
Finally, one of the most surprising things about being a cat parent is the depth of love I feel for Baby Cat. I always knew I’d care for my pets, but I didn’t realize how much joy, comfort, and companionship this little guy would bring into my life. I remember about a year after we got him, my husband and I were snuggling him and I looked at both of them and said, “I have no idea how I will ever love anything more than this little cat, even though I know when we have a human child it will be different, but I cannot comprehend the possibility right now.” And I meant it, the love I felt for him then was the most love I’d ever felt for something that was “mine.” Of course, when we had our daughter, I felt something even more intense, and I felt so down for months because I couldn’t love Baby Cat the way I did before, but again, that has all evened out and my love is shared amongst all of my babies now, and having them all love each other too is the most heartwarming experience ever. I feel very grateful for it all.
Life Is Full of Surprises
Being a cat parent has been full of unexpected surprises and new experiences. From adjusting my lifestyle to accommodate Baby Cat’s needs to finding joy in the simplest of moments, my journey as a cat parent has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my life. And while I never thought I’d do many of these things, I wouldn’t trade them for anything. My cat has enriched my life in ways I never imagined, and I’m grateful for every quirky, unexpected moment that comes with being his mom.
This article is a part of Nicole and Baby Cat’s series.
