Puck asks if he looks like a witch: of course he doesn’t!
But, maybe, a red-haired woman having a black cat might…
You only bewitch us with your cartoons!
I found this strip listed on gocomics.com this morning! That was a nice find although I’ve been following here since the beginning it was def a pleasant surprise!
I’m on Elvis’ side. A baby has nothing a cat wants, except possibly a nice spot to curl up in or some attention. They don’t have food, they’re too big to catch, they’re no fun to chase, and the people are too excitable when they get walked on. They’re also way too likely to grab a nose, an ear, a whisker, or a tail.
Better to just stay away until they can be trained to serve the cat properly.
On the other hand, we had a cat when two of our boys were very little and she was surprisingly gentle with them until they got older, louder, and rougher.
I just adore each and every one of these wonderful cartoons! My favorite part is Elvis’ last line – “Why would I even go near the baby?” And when he says he doesn’t ordinarily come out from behind the couch when there’s company! All three cats are adorable. Thank you for your wonderful work!
She is and she isn’t–she is not designed after or based on anyone, but this is advice that the Man and I received several times when we had our son. So, the character is not a real person… But there were real people who did this!
A friend’s cat would play a game with their daughter, encouraging her to crawl. The baby would try to pet the cat. Cat would allow it for a bit, then get up, move some distance away, and look back expectantly. The baby would crawl after the cat until she was close enough to pet him again… and repeat.
Haley Joel Osment: “I see stupid people. Walking around like regular people. They don’t see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don’t know they’re stupid.”
Sad to say my family’s neighbors in the 90s believed this pernicious myth and as a result kicked both of their cats out of the house when they had a baby. Both of the cats were declawed and had been indoors only. And when these same neighbors moved away a couple of years later, they left the cats behind in the yard as if they were lawn ornaments. They were terrible people. My family took the cats in after a long campaign of luring them out from under the shrubs they were hiding in. They were really traumatized but recovered fine.
Cats are not demons but some people very well might be.
While obviously untrue, the myth above has interesting origins. To quote The Straight Dope:
“Some cat-care experts — folks who presumably would laugh off unfounded legends about cats — warn against allowing a cat into a room with a newborn baby. “Cats like warm spots to sleep,” one writer says. “Attracted by body heat, they may curl up alongside a baby, but this habit must be discouraged as there is a danger that the cat might unwittingly suffocate the child.””
I’ll go out on a limb here and say it depends on the cat. But our cat, Vicky, loves to sleep in my mom’s bed, and sometimes I’ll find her curled up on the pillows next to my mom’s face or behind her head — sometimes she’s practically sleeping ON my mom’s face. For my mom? Not a problem.
But for a newborn baby? A cat could easily — accidentally — suffocate a baby.
I suppose the point is to know your facts from your fiction, and don’t overdo it. Throwing the cat out because you had a new child is absurd. If you’re worried, keep Mittens out of the baby’s room.
I would agree it probably depends on the cat, and that it’s safer to make sure the cat isn’t left alone with a baby.
Ruth would crawl under the covers at about the same time every night and curl up between my legs. Occasionally she’d sleep beside my head. That cat would probably never have tried to sleep on top of a baby.
Blueberry on the other hand saw nothing wrong with walking across our pillows at night, whether our heads were on them or not, and eventually had to be restricted to a different part of the house at night. We had to stack baby gates across the kitchen doorway and even then she regularly climbed them in the middle of the night to let us know she wanted out of confinement.
GEORGIA! My friend and I both subscribed to BCN on GoComics. But we’re still going to visit the site. Hopefully, this will help keep the BCN train rolling.
When I was born, my grandparents had an Elvis type, named Suntan. He spent all his time in my crib, “guarding” me and snoozing alongside. Back in the 60s there weren’t many safety concerns, so I am sure he was never shooed out. He and I grew up to be great friends. The second siamese of the house, Hey You, never warmed up to my baby-ness.
I have to disagree with Rich. Yes, we agree that a baby is a warm spot to cuddle up .But babies also eat things that cats also like to eat, and they can still smell the milk — or for older ones, baby food. Cats go bonkers over baby food, and want to “help” clean the baby! Though admittedly, babies who like grabbing things are a danger to long fuzzy tails…
Cat News rocks! I love this comic. Way behind but reading a couple strips a day. If this was a TV show it would be an instant renewal for another season!
When my parents brought me home as a newborn, they were nervous about how the two cats in residence would respond. On the one hand, I was their baby, but on the other hand, the cats had seniority. New Baby was placed on a chair and given a through sniff over by the cats.
The verdict: “Meh.” Followed by ignoring. Same verdict applied a few years later for my brother.
Away back in 1981 my then mother-in-law told me that the cats would steal the baby’s breath because of the smell of milk. I disproved that by pouring some breast milk that baby didn’t want from a bottle in a bowl. Sammy came eagerly, then shrank back as if I were trying to poison him. Now, they did want to steal the baby’s warmth. That was a cold, cold winter.
Elvis! My hero!
Oh Lupin, you charismatic devil.
Lupin waving his eyebrows:
unique!
Puck asks if he looks like a witch: of course he doesn’t!
But, maybe, a red-haired woman having a black cat might…
You only bewitch us with your cartoons!
Keep up the good work!
Lupin is the shade master
And Elvis sums it up!
Elvis panel three – eek!
Good grief, did you actually have to deal with people telling you this sort of crazy thing?
…Yes
I wish I could say no, but this advice was all too real!
The baby has his own tower? I don’t have my own tower! Elvis, I need you!
BTW, who is this old baggage that the Woman and the Man have in their house?
I found this strip listed on gocomics.com this morning! That was a nice find although I’ve been following here since the beginning it was def a pleasant surprise!
Thank you, Lady Mel!!! I’m so excited it will be there too!
Yes! I only just stumbled upon this gem of a comic strip only a couple of months ago or so on GoComics.com and it’s made my year.
I’m on Elvis’ side. A baby has nothing a cat wants, except possibly a nice spot to curl up in or some attention. They don’t have food, they’re too big to catch, they’re no fun to chase, and the people are too excitable when they get walked on. They’re also way too likely to grab a nose, an ear, a whisker, or a tail.
Better to just stay away until they can be trained to serve the cat properly.
On the other hand, we had a cat when two of our boys were very little and she was surprisingly gentle with them until they got older, louder, and rougher.
I just adore each and every one of these wonderful cartoons! My favorite part is Elvis’ last line – “Why would I even go near the baby?” And when he says he doesn’t ordinarily come out from behind the couch when there’s company! All three cats are adorable. Thank you for your wonderful work!
In fairness, old Siberian witches are often covered in coarse, black hair, but they’re not nearly as huggable.
This is GREAT!!! And I love the way the baby is reaching out to the cat in the last frame!
Is this woman with the black hair real?
She is and she isn’t–she is not designed after or based on anyone, but this is advice that the Man and I received several times when we had our son. So, the character is not a real person… But there were real people who did this!
Elvis and I seem to have many of the same attitudes towards babies. I’m not sure what that says about me. He really made me laugh in this one, though!
Just be sure to leave Baby’s Breath (flower) away from the cats!
A friend’s cat would play a game with their daughter, encouraging her to crawl. The baby would try to pet the cat. Cat would allow it for a bit, then get up, move some distance away, and look back expectantly. The baby would crawl after the cat until she was close enough to pet him again… and repeat.
That is great!
Why does Puck say, “CN news, Ma’am,” in the last panel? Isn’t that redundant?
It is a bit, but I originally thought of the joke as a CNN news parody, and kept the news at the end for that reason.
Keep it! That’s part of the charm and now it’s a tradition!
I always assumed CN stood for Cat Network…
Ooh!! I like that reasoning very much! I may adopt that….
I accept your reasoning!
Haley Joel Osment: “I see stupid people. Walking around like regular people. They don’t see each other. They only see what they want to see. They don’t know they’re stupid.”
Sad to say my family’s neighbors in the 90s believed this pernicious myth and as a result kicked both of their cats out of the house when they had a baby. Both of the cats were declawed and had been indoors only. And when these same neighbors moved away a couple of years later, they left the cats behind in the yard as if they were lawn ornaments. They were terrible people. My family took the cats in after a long campaign of luring them out from under the shrubs they were hiding in. They were really traumatized but recovered fine.
Cats are not demons but some people very well might be.
Totally agree. Bravo to your family for doing the right thing and caring for them when those neighbors failed!
Baba Yaga reference! You win the internet! Again!
Thank you!! I LOVE BABA YAGA! A whole heck of a lot!
Also caught the reference. Own a big book of Baba Yaga stories myself. Awesomest fairy tale witch ever.
Yes indeed, she is!! Totally agree!
While obviously untrue, the myth above has interesting origins. To quote The Straight Dope:
“Some cat-care experts — folks who presumably would laugh off unfounded legends about cats — warn against allowing a cat into a room with a newborn baby. “Cats like warm spots to sleep,” one writer says. “Attracted by body heat, they may curl up alongside a baby, but this habit must be discouraged as there is a danger that the cat might unwittingly suffocate the child.””
I’ll go out on a limb here and say it depends on the cat. But our cat, Vicky, loves to sleep in my mom’s bed, and sometimes I’ll find her curled up on the pillows next to my mom’s face or behind her head — sometimes she’s practically sleeping ON my mom’s face. For my mom? Not a problem.
But for a newborn baby? A cat could easily — accidentally — suffocate a baby.
I suppose the point is to know your facts from your fiction, and don’t overdo it. Throwing the cat out because you had a new child is absurd. If you’re worried, keep Mittens out of the baby’s room.
I agree that any animal (and young child) should not be left alone with a newborn for safety’s sake.
I would agree it probably depends on the cat, and that it’s safer to make sure the cat isn’t left alone with a baby.
Ruth would crawl under the covers at about the same time every night and curl up between my legs. Occasionally she’d sleep beside my head. That cat would probably never have tried to sleep on top of a baby.
Blueberry on the other hand saw nothing wrong with walking across our pillows at night, whether our heads were on them or not, and eventually had to be restricted to a different part of the house at night. We had to stack baby gates across the kitchen doorway and even then she regularly climbed them in the middle of the night to let us know she wanted out of confinement.
GEORGIA! My friend and I both subscribed to BCN on GoComics. But we’re still going to visit the site. Hopefully, this will help keep the BCN train rolling.
Thank you, Jenna!! (And to your friend too!) And it will indeed!
Building a tower. BRB.
I love Elvis (and Baba Yaga! – how could sweet lil Puck ever be confused with her?).
Oh my gosh, Lupin, Elvis. So adorable. Poor little Puck.
Cats are so personable.
I love how Elvis’s ears are flattened sideways with annoyance. Their expressions and cat-postures are always so perfect!
Yes it’s great how the cats are intrepid reports and yet so cat
Hey, Puck is black! So you know, witches and stuff…
Puck: “Do I look like an old Siberian witch?”
Elvis: “BE RIGHT BACK, BUILDING A TOWER TO IMPRISON THE BABY.”
Absolutely awesome and made of win! The poor boys affronted and indignant faces – PRICELESS!!
When I was born, my grandparents had an Elvis type, named Suntan. He spent all his time in my crib, “guarding” me and snoozing alongside. Back in the 60s there weren’t many safety concerns, so I am sure he was never shooed out. He and I grew up to be great friends. The second siamese of the house, Hey You, never warmed up to my baby-ness.
such indignation! so enjoy elvis’ flat ears and ripostes in this.
I have to disagree with Rich. Yes, we agree that a baby is a warm spot to cuddle up .But babies also eat things that cats also like to eat, and they can still smell the milk — or for older ones, baby food. Cats go bonkers over baby food, and want to “help” clean the baby! Though admittedly, babies who like grabbing things are a danger to long fuzzy tails…
Cat News rocks! I love this comic. Way behind but reading a couple strips a day. If this was a TV show it would be an instant renewal for another season!
Thank you, Steve!!
When my parents brought me home as a newborn, they were nervous about how the two cats in residence would respond. On the one hand, I was their baby, but on the other hand, the cats had seniority. New Baby was placed on a chair and given a through sniff over by the cats.
The verdict: “Meh.” Followed by ignoring. Same verdict applied a few years later for my brother.
Away back in 1981 my then mother-in-law told me that the cats would steal the baby’s breath because of the smell of milk. I disproved that by pouring some breast milk that baby didn’t want from a bottle in a bowl. Sammy came eagerly, then shrank back as if I were trying to poison him. Now, they did want to steal the baby’s warmth. That was a cold, cold winter.
I keep coming back from time to time to read this one–it still cracks me up no matter how many times I read it!
I know that parents aren’t supposed to ever pick a favorite, but I’m starting to wonder…Georgia always gives Elvis the best lines.
My BFF’s 3 “tuxies” would routinely sleep on her face, and because of it, she swears that she had as many hairballs as they did.