Snow Day At The Cat Cafe | Sleep Story To Fall Asleep Fast

Tonight's calm bedtime story for grown-ups will help you fall into a healing,

Blissful sleep.

You are listening to Snow Day at the Cat Cafe,

A guided sleep story that brings you back to a maritime city where you may enjoy being the owner of a cat cafe.

A rare snow day brings many souls to this beloved shop as kittens sleep by the fire and cats frolic in the storefront windows chasing after the lacy snowflakes.

After closing time,

You retreat to an upstairs apartment and fall asleep as the winter wind howls outside.

It's time to dream away.

I would like to welcome you to Michelle's Sanctuary.

I am Michelle,

And as you listen,

Think of me as an old friend who advocates for your best interests and self-care.

Your needs and comfort matter more than anything at the end of the day.

This time is meant for softness,

Safety,

And peace.

Any thoughts or concerns that don't align with this intention may be cast aside for another time.

Let your imagination set the tone for your sleeping life and dreams to come.

Customize every detail of this story to what makes you happy and feel free to fall asleep at any point,

Just as cats do when settling before a nap.

You may wiggle,

Snuggle,

And adjust your bedding to support the softness of this moment.

You may even yawn and stretch one last time,

Just as a cat would before curling up into a ball and purring to sleep.

Cats set an example we may follow when it comes to self-soothing and luxuriating in sleep.

Supported by your bed and pillows,

In the sanctuary of your room,

Turn your attention to your breath.

Enjoy a sleepy pattern of breathing at the pace that feels right as you yawn,

Sigh,

And then inhale slowly.

To prepare for the story,

Imagine the air you inhale is cold,

Damp,

And smells of freshly fallen snow.

The air purifies you with its clean smell as it is warmed by your nose and travels to your lungs.

As you yawn,

Sigh,

And inhale again,

Every breath brings you one breath closer to sleep.

You may drift between consciousness and sleep throughout this journey with the grace of oversized snowflakes falling against the backdrop of a quiet night.

When a thick blanket of snow coats the outside world,

It absorbs the sound to create a hushed,

Soothing environment.

One more time,

Yawn and sigh,

And inhale,

And then enjoy one long,

Drawn out sigh.

Notice how much deeper each breath became.

Notice how much more relaxed you are now than when we first began.

Return your breath to normal,

And in the state of ease,

Your mind feels safe to wander to imaginary places.

You go deeper into the sanctuary of your mind as the story begins.

There is something profoundly inspiring when an animal is rescued and rehabilitated,

Safe in a new home where it may experience love and learn to trust.

Of all the hard things that may happen in life,

A rescued soul offers a sense of resilience that every one of us has.

And sometimes,

In the process of rescuing an animal,

We may heal and in a way,

Learn to save ourselves.

We may experience the happy ending promised in fairy tales told to us as children.

Perhaps that is why so many of the souls who travel from the other side of the world to visit the harbor town of Colette will make it a point to pop into the Cat Cafe at least once on their journey.

The Cat Cafe offers many stories with happy endings.

For the locals of Colette,

The Cat Cafe is as familiar as the downtown library and century-old diner.

When the children of Colette visit other cities and towns,

They are perplexed as to why there is no Cat Cafe to be found.

An unexpected and quite unusual snowstorm blew in on a polar vortex,

Covering the cobblestone streets in a thick,

Crunchy blanket of snow before sunrise.

The aroma of clean snow overpowers the salty air,

And everything feels new and different when you step outside to shovel the fluffy accumulation from the sidewalks.

The weekday morning is a bit quieter on the snow day than normal as children and adults alike ignore their alarms and continue to sleep in as the radio news reports make it official.

The normal bustle of the morning commute is now replaced with a whistling winter wind and the sound of snow cakes falling off slanted roofs and the scraping of shovels at neighboring shops.

As the sidewalks are cleared,

The snow continues to fall in oversized,

Lacy crystals big enough to recognize the uniquely individual patterns in each one.

A few flakes land on your knit cap and argyle scarf gifted to you over the holidays.

From visitors from Scotland,

You peer into the coffee shop,

Enjoying this vantage point.

From the outside looking in,

It brings a pleasant wave of pride and pure elation.

The kittens have been up for some time and pounce on the older residents and bat at their whiskers in an attempt to wake them.

The older cats have learned to ignore and sleep through these escapades,

Snuggled in their favorite spots throughout the cafe.

Thanks to many donations and whimsical ideas from artists in the community,

There are enough sleeping nooks,

Cozy spaces,

Hammocks,

Fluffy beds,

Wicker baskets near the wood stove,

And velvet armchairs for each cat to have their pick of places to nestle,

Of course.

Nearly all the cats are most enthused on delivery days,

When empty boxes scatter the store,

Cardboard refuges offer the perfect place for the cats to hide and pop out of the cardboard flaps.

Some of the cats pat the flaps as if playing the snare drum in a fast-tempoed rock song.

You admire the cats because they do what they want when they want to,

And even if there are consequences,

They will satiate their impulsive,

Rambunctious desires anyway.

Strong-willed and obdurate,

They do what they please.

And there's something appealing in having the freedom and chutzpah to just do what you please.

There are times you observe the rescued kitties and imagine how much you would love to roam the cafe and explore all the safe havens for catnaps and try out each one.

A bonded sister and brother pair,

Two fluffy white and gray long-haired cats are the newest additions to the cafe.

They sleep in the bow window at the front of the shop with their warm bodies curled up together in a heart shape.

You take in this moment of peace and then peer down the lane as the snow falls on the picturesque historic buildings and lavender-gray plumes drift across the sky.

You appreciate your muscles that softly burn and radiate heat beneath your puffy coat after the efforts employed to clear the fresh snow.

You take in a deep breath and your nose tingles on the inside and outside of your cold as a few snowflakes melt on your cheeks.

The wind causes your eyes to become teary,

But they also tear from the wells of gratitude you feel for the comforts of the warm cafe and the comfort you are able to provide for everyone who walks through the front door and feels like they are coming home.

Laurel,

Your favorite employee,

Now in her final semester of college,

Sits perched on a stool behind the glass display of baked goods.

Immersed in her studies,

You encourage her to study during the walls,

Supportive of her veterinary dreams.

You know in time it will be hard for her to leave this haven as she has worked here since her teen years when the cafe opened up,

But you both know that her talents will take her far,

And her acquired skills will help tend to the cats that show up at the wharf.

Golden fairy lights hang across exposed wooden beams in the cafe,

Remnants of the holiday season that you leave up until winter has released its period of darkness and collect by the softness of the shop.

And the glowing fairy lights and amber firelight,

And the layers of pillowy pastries and clouds of whipped cream,

And the furry,

Purring friends that roam the shop make the colder months not just palatable,

But like a pleasant dream.

The first of a parade of children in puffy snowsuits in primary hues begins to trail down the lane to the nearby park.

They will spend the morning hours sliding down snow-covered hills,

Creating angels in the fresh powder and impishly launching snowballs at unsuspecting adults.

But when their fingers and toes go numb and their exerted bodies long for a pick-me-up,

The cafe will be there to serve decadent hot cocoa for the kids,

With an option of robust elixirs and teas for the adults.

What you love most about this snow day is how it turns the normal rhythm of your day off its cycle and makes room for spontaneity and fun.

As much as you may enjoy the life you've created in this charming town,

There are times when the human spirit needs a little change-up.

You open the door to the cafe and stomp off the snow on your boots onto the welcome mat,

Which captures the tree of life occupied by sleeping cats and its twisting branches and beneath a canopy of lush leaves.

You take in a deep breath and the aromatic,

Warm,

Dry air is so decadent that it is almost addictive,

And so you inhale deeply again.

The air smells of coffee,

Buttery delights,

Burning wood,

Cinnamon,

Meg,

Cocoa,

And a cocktail of soft and sweet aromatics that send the mind to memories of joy.

For many of the cats and all the kittens,

The world outside is covered with more snow than they have ever seen or experienced.

Most of the cats awaken and curiously approach the door in a way they haven't before.

They are more intrigued by the weather than the fresh bowls of food Laurel placed out while you cleared the sidewalk.

You make a note and file it in the back of your mind that you must do something to give them a chance to experience the snow.

The soft crackle of old vinyl accompanies a lo-fi bossa nova cover plays in the cafe.

It lends a chill vibe and rhythm that often makes guests move their bodies subtly and unconsciously to its hypnotic beats.

A black wood stove warms the cafe and tiger orange and honey-hued flames lick the antique glass door.

A few customers have come in to order their lattes and coffee to go.

Vincent,

An author of suspenseful fiction known all over the world,

Is the sole sitting patron at the moment.

Nearly every day for the past 3 months,

The cafe has become an office for Vincent.

He sits in a club chair behind a nautical mosaic cafe table and beneath an Andy Warhol-inspired acrylic painting of a black cat that he swears is his muse.

In another life,

He would have his own cattery were it not for a school-aged son who is allergic to cats.

Street traffic picks up,

Heavier with pedestrians than cars.

As customers begin to fill the shop,

The clinking spoons and ceramic mugs,

Conversational murmurs,

The crackling and popping of logs in the wood stove,

And the whooshing sound of the espresso machine join the lo-fi bossa nova songs to create the perfect soundtrack for a snow day.

The first round of children come to the cafe and park their sleds outside the storefront windows.

They stumble into the cafe with cherry-hued noses and cheeks,

Carrying the smell of winter on their parkas and snowsuits.

They peel away their snow-covered layers and pile up by the coat hooks and on the floor,

No matter how much their parents attempt to organize them.

A trio of curious tortoiseshell kittens and an older tuxedo cat investigate the mounds of fleece and insulated coats.

They paw at the remaining snow crystals and pounce on the piles of outerwear before curling up and falling asleep.

You join Laurel behind the counter and get lost in the steady stream of orders,

Caught in a flow that as zen time speeds by,

As it always does when you find your rhythm,

The turned pages of Vincent's yellow legal pad now covered in his squiggly script are as much an indicator of time as the hands on the clock.

You do not take for granted the abundance of once-considered exotic teas and coffee beans long ago carried across deserts and dangerous mountain passes by brave souls who traded these desired goods.

You appreciate this time in history that have made it easy to enjoy and share these simple,

Time-honored pleasures.

Fievel,

A Maine Coon cat,

Looks out the window longingly.

You and Laurel notice him at the same time,

Both wondering how the cats could enjoy the snow and remain safe indoors.

Laurel reaches beneath the counter to remove a galvanized steel tub and smiles.

She says,

Give me a minute.

You watch her recruit Vincent and a few older kids in the shop.

They step out into the snowy wonderland and with a shovel and gloved hands fill the large basin with fresh snow.

Vincent and Laurel grab the handles of the heavy tub and the kids open the door to the cafe for them.

They carry the tub of pristine snow to the back of the cafe and place it on a rubber floor mat.

Within seconds,

The cats begin to gather around the snow basin,

Sniffing it and gathering wet flakes on their whiskers.

Fievel is even bolder than the kittens and is the first to hop into the basin to play with the snow.

Everyone in the cafe gathers around the back to watch the cats frolic.

One of the kittens bravely hops into the snow but is so surprised by the cold that she springs three and a half feet into the air to land again in the cold substance.

Tufts of snow scatter on the mat and the cats take turns batting it around,

Hopping in and out of the silver tub.

Watching their curiosity inspires you and everyone in the cafe to be more curious and aware of the beauty around you in any given moment.

The mundane becomes sublime when you engage all your senses and become present once done with their exploration.

Not long before the snow melts into a silvery pool,

The cats gather around the wood stove and heat pipe to lick themselves clean while asleep.

The late afternoon rolls into early darkness.

The cobblestone lane sparkles outside the cafe windows,

Illuminated by golden street lamps like a snowy Victorian dream.

The cafe closes as older kids trek back from the park to return home for dinner.

A few of the kids tap on the window and wave at you and Laurel.

Vincent finishes up for the day,

His legal pad half full only because of Laurel as he started to take photos of the pages.

At the end of each writing session,

He would argue that the greatest writers of all time didn't require a backup system,

But Laurel told him they would have certainly appreciated the technology.

You smile and think about this balance required in life now and imagine a time before all these technological advances came into play.

And while they have afforded so many pleasures and luxuries to be available with ease in the cafe,

Times appreciate simplicity as much as Vincent.

He leaves a generous tip for Laurel,

As supportive of her studies and path as you are,

You insist that she head home early and that you are fine to close the cafe on your own.

While considered work,

It is the kind of work you enjoy.

Oe to tidy up and unwind at the end of the day and envision the day to come.

Vincent and Laurel leave,

Bundled in their winter attire.

The wind comes in from the marina,

Sharp and cutting.

Flurries fall and surrender to the gusts,

Flying off into the night.

You accompany them out and appreciate the chill.

It invigorates you and causes you to feel present and alive and like the curious cat,

Some experiencing snow for the first time.

You scoop up a handful of snow from across the top of a shutter.

You feel it melt in the heart of your palm and watch as the iridescent snow crystals become cold droplets.

This simple moment with the snow leaves you awestruck in this magical moment.

And just before the cold becomes unbearable,

You pop back into the cafe to feed the cats dinner.

They follow you in a line,

Meowing and purring,

And competing to rub their warm,

Furry bodies against your legs.

The sounds of them chomping on kibble and sipping from water fountains soothe you as you enjoy a meal at the cafe bar.

You enjoy the solitude of the cafe after hours,

Although you're never quite alone with a dozen felines in the mix.

Once satiated,

You put on the right music to clean the cafe.

You sweep the floors and dance along to a favorite song,

Occasionally spotted by a random passerby who laughs or smiles and waves.

As you wave back,

The snow picks up again as you clean the windowsills and peer out onto the night,

Feeling as if you're inside the storybook setting of a snow globe.

Cats interfere with your evening tasks,

But this is the routine you all grow to love.

They scurry about with one last burst of energy before they retreat to hammocks and armchairs,

To hideaways and cat tunnels,

To fall asleep.

You say goodnight to them,

You say goodnight to the cafe,

Your refuge,

Purpose,

Your haven.

A side door leads to a stairway,

To your quaint upstairs apartment.

You ascend the stairs,

One at a time,

Counting each one as you go.

The wooden steps creak and settle beneath your feet and lead to a long,

Narrow hallway decorated with framed black and white photos of the dozens of cats who have called the cafe home.

At some point,

The snow swirls in mini cyclones on the other side of the frosted hallway windows.

You hear the soft meows of Scarlet,

The beloved orange tabby cat who inspired you to start the cafe.

You arrive at the heavy wooden door that leads into the apartment and turn the engraved brass.

Scarlet stretches her front paws on the doormat when you enter and remove your shoes and change into slippers.

On rare occasions,

She will come down to the cafe.

She's always keen on letting you know when she wants to come along.

So strong is your bond that you find it easy to anticipate her needs and desires.

You inhale deeply,

Soothed by the aroma of home.

The radiator clanks and the wind whistles outside as you replenish Scarlet's dish.

And as she enjoys her evening meal,

You prepare a fire in the living room.

The dry wood catches quickly and the fireplace is positioned in the lofty apartment so it may be enjoyed from both the living area and bedroom.

You change into freshly laundered loungewear and brush your teeth.

You return to the living room and settle in a navy velvet chair that looks out onto the snowy street.

During the day,

Scarlet naps on the chair cushion and on nights like this,

She joins you as she sits in your lap and softly kneads your legs before curling into a ball.

She purrs and yawns,

Then audibly sighs.

You catch a yawn and sigh as well.

As sleepiness takes over,

Your mind is still.

You are so comfortable that you wish to bottle up this moment as a keepsake worn around your neck to remind you how delicious and soft a moment can be.

And as you are lost in the rhythm of serving visitors to the cafe,

You get lost in the rhythm of the scattering white snow and honey flames that lick the soot walls of the fireplace.

Still,

Relaxed,

Calm,

At ease,

Your body becomes heavier and you start to drift between.

Whirl,

You catch yourself on the cliff of sleep and awaken to rise and go to bed.

You hug Scarlet against your chest and carry her to the room.

She barely stirs,

Feeling so safe in your arms.

You enter the bedroom and place her on the end of the bed.

You pull back the heavy ivory quilt,

Crisp cotton sheets,

And join her.

Her body curves around your feet and her purring resumes.

The weight and warmth of her body and the soft,

Persistent vibrations of her purring soothe you as you close your eyes.

So grateful for the comforts,

The connections,

The beauty this day has given you.

You feel grateful to be of service and to be making the world a better place in your own special way.

These warm feelings wash over you as you drift and go deeper and deeper down into a state of relaxation,

Ready to cross over the bridge to your sleeping and dreaming life.

Finding peace,

Finding bliss,

Finding sleep.

It's time to dream.