Toby is a warm and cuddly cat at night. He snuggles with me – curling up against my legs. I began to think that this is a new and loving part of our relationship. I joked that he is a furry, vibrating hot water bottle. He flounced into the crook of my legs and hugged my knees. He purred and I smiled.

When we had a cold snap outside and the heat had to work a little harder to keep us all warm, Toby cuddled closer. Sweet, right? Then, I noticed that he was getting warmer and I seemed to be getting chillier. As my legs started to cool and I shivered a bit, he moved away from me to enjoy the nearby comforter. That’s when I realized it … Toby was a heat vampire draining the warmth from my legs.

Gone was my hope in the belief that my little fellow relished our time together.

Gone was the expectation of reciprocated love of cuddling.

The boy just wanted my leg heat.

After he moved away from my cooling legs, I snuggled back up in the other end of the comforter and my legs started to warm up again. That’s when I felt it … a furry vibrating water bottle of a cat curling up against my legs. He was back. Not to be fooled twice, this time I knew he would leave after he drained the heat from my legs. But even though I knew he would leave, I couldn’t help but smile that he came back to cuddle. I’ll take what I can get, sweet Toby.