Y'see, it wasn't so much that I wanted or needed a nap. It was that the Boy needed a cuddle, and his favorite position is curled up on my chest. Not in my lap like a normal cat, no...laying on my chest with one of my arms making a bend and my hand holding his rump and the other hand resting lightly on his shoulder. Obviously, this is not a position conducive to any other project like, say, reading a book or doing beadwork. There's just so much staying-awake you can do when both of your hands are occupied and something is radiating delta waves at you.

With the Big Kitty, it's different. She likes to sleep with her fanny in my lap and the rest of the cat spread out long with the head down at my knees as I rest my feet on the footstool. Because she is rather large and rather broad, this is similar to being under a 102° electric blanket. Once again, there is the issue of delta-wave radiation, and of course being under a warm, furry (albeit heavy) blanket doesn't contribute to a general state of wakefulness. The stormy season has its secret joys, and naps with friends are among them.