I heard a few years ago of a legend about the first Christmas, in which Mary could not get baby Jesus to go to sleep.  All the people (Joseph, shepherds, etc.), angels, and other animals (cows, sheep, doves, etc.) tried, but no one could lull him to slumber.  Then a little tabby cat jumped up into the manger and purred him to sleep.  Mary was so grateful that she kissed the tabby cat on the forehead--and to this very day, all tabbies have an "M" on their forehead.  (It's more distinct on some tabbiest than others, but it's always there, though it sometimes looks like two inverted "V"s.)

After hearing of this legend, I wrote the tabby cat into the old (15th C.?) French carol, "The Frienly Beasts"  (which is in the current Unitarian Hymnal under the title "Jesus, Our Brother.")   Here is my verse to honor the tabby cat.  It needs to come right after the verse about the doves cooing him to sleep.

Sonja
 

"Wait, neow," said the tabby cat, silken-furred.
"To sing him to sleep it took more than those birds!
So to lull him to slumber, I softly pur-r-r-r-r-r'd."
"I," said the tabby cat, silken-furred.

© 1994 Sonja W. Oates