There are a lot of myths surrounding cats and babies— and although most of them are quite silly, you can’t blame new parents for being concerned. One myth, the idea that cats will sneak into your nursery to smother your baby or suck the air out of their lungs, has been around for ages. It reportedly stems from the erroneous belief that cats— and black cats, in particular— are super evil.
Because of scary myths like these, one South African mother was apprehensive about bringing a new kitty into her household. She didn’t want the cat to attack the baby, or, God forbid, smother him in his sleep! She decided to let the baby and cat get acquainted— and after seeing the cat’s adorable reaction, all her fears were put at ease.
In the delightful video, you see Matthew, the adorable baby, grab the kitty’s paw and rest his head on the cat’s back. He sports a giant grin as the kitty’s soft fur rubs against his face.
At first, the cat isn’t too sure what to make of the tiny human grabbing her leg. But after about half a second, she leans in and starts licking the boy’s thinly-haired head. As the cat’s tongue rubs across his scalp, Matthew’s mouth widens in wonder and surprise. I’m sure the rough tongue feels funny on his soft skin.
The kitty keeps licking Matthew’s head for a few seconds before the boy lifts his head and meets her eyes.
He lets out a wide grin before ducking back down, ready for more kitty kisses. Love is evident in Matthew’s expression, and the kitty even crawls towards him to make her licking easier.
It’s so cool to see the beginnings of such an adorable life-long friendship— because if this video is any indication, Matthew and Lemsie will definitely be best buds for life.
Even though there are a lot of scary myths surrounding cats and babies, in general, felines are pretty good with little tots! When introducing your cat to a new baby, The Spruce suggests being very “matter-of-fact” about the whole ordeal.
“You want the kitty to understand this is a normal, expected part of his life,” they explain. “Don’t force the introduction, but if the cat acts interested, allow him to sniff the baby’s food, perhaps (with a scented sock).”
“By allowing your cat to actually look at, smell, and touch that creature that’s so very different, he’ll understand there’s nothing to fear.”
See Matthew and Lemsie’s heartwarming interaction below!
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