Overheard in the nursery, late one night ....

Mother, Mother: tell us of the new countries!
 
Ah my beloved ones, you are so young, why do you wish to hear so soon of the new countries?
 
Tell us Mother, tell us of the new lands where we will go!
 
I will tell you, my beloved of the

new countries you will live in when you are grown, but you must listen quietly and compose yourselves as I have
taught you ...
 
We will, we will, Mother, only tell us how it will be!
 
Very well then.  In the new countries everything will be strange.  All smells will be different, and even the food on your plate will be strange,
though it looks and smells and tastes just as it did here at home.
 
Will the Humans be the same Mother?
 
No, my beloved, the Humans will be strange too, and will speak with
strange voices and touch with strange hands.  When you hide, their hands will seek you out and drag you into the light to hold you!
 
We would be frightened, we would run 
 
No, my beloved, these hands will be good too, and you will learn of love
from them.
 
What of the other cats, Mother?
 
Ah, the other cats will be a mystery and a terror!  No, do not hide your
faces little ones, for I will tell you how to live in the new country with the other cats, as I have told you before ...
 
Yes, yes, tell us again, Mother, so that we will remember!
 
Very well then: the other cats will be large, and their smell will be very
strange, and they will not welcome you into their land.  But you are well
brought-up children, and you will remember the lessons I have taught you, so they will grow to love you as I do.
 
Tell us what we must do, Mother!
 
Sit quietly then, and do not interrupt like the rudelings you are!  First, as
I have told you, you must find the oldest cat in the new land, and you must go to this cat and bow, and tell him your name.  The oldest cat will pretend that he has not heard such an insignificant creature, and perhaps he will yawn and show you that he is nearly blind, and has few teeth, and has no interest in the creatures of the floor.  When this time comes, I know that you will remember to jump on the oldest cat, and chase him when he goes to his litter tray, and sit in his warm place when he goes to eat.  This is the way of all cats, and has always been the way.
 
Then, you must find the Queen of the house, for she is the mother of that land, and she is the cat MOST TO BE FEARED.  This Queen will be elevated above other cats, and when she strikes, her claws will be bared, and your soft fur will not be proof against her anger.  When you come to the Queen, you must bow down, and become as small as the lowliest rodent, and you must submit to her in all things before you jump on her from a great height.  If the Queen has babes then you will hiss and teach them to respect you, but be wary, for the Queen will chase you from her room every time you enter, and punish you for your presumption!
  
Are you the Queen of this country, Mother?
 
Yes my children, I am.  But hush now and learn your lessons.
 
Then you must find the subjects of the Queen, and you must run with all your speed and all your might right up to the face of each of these cats.  Do not stop until your nose touches their nose, and then you must jump with all your might high in the air and then run with all your speed to your safe place that you have found, where the Queen and her subjects cannot reach you because they are too large.  From there you must hiss and growl and spit (yes, my child, just like that) and tell them of your fury and your courage before the greatest monsters, and show them how large you can grow when you puff your silky coat and gorgeous tail.  When they have tired of your courage, and left you to yourself, then you may emerge and go in search of toys and new entertainments, and there will be many of these in the land that has not yet known your touch.

Be wary of china ornaments, they do not topple as easily as you might
imagine, and will require determination if you are to accomplish their complete destruction.  Always remember that there must always be another cat in the room at the time of your toppling, or you will invite the wrath of the Humans.  If you are scolded, purr and roll over and all will be forgiven.  If you wish for love or for food, show the Humans your beautiful eyes and your dainty paws, and they will pity you and do your bidding.   When the subjects of the Queen chase you in front of the Humans, lie
pathetically on the floor, and cower as if you are in fear of your life, and the Humans will sweep you into their arms and speak with anger to the cats of that country.
  
Remember that no height is too high, no shelf or ledge too narrow, and no depth too low, or too wet for your dainty paws.  All parts of the new
land are for you to explore and taste, and this will be expected of you
from your earliest days.
 
When the cats of the new land have ceased their first anger against you, you must teach them to respect you by jumping on them from a great height. BUT beware the young Prince of the house, as he will not be afraid, and when you jump on him, he will turn and PLAY WITH YOU.  No, my beloved, this is not the play of brother and sister in the nursery, this is the play such as that of a cat with its prey.  He is the largest cat you have ever seen, and he will tumble you over and over, and chase you up and down and around, but he will run away when you turn and hiss, and he will cry piteously if he feels your sharp teeth.  He will love you, my beloved, and he will follow you and watch your grace and your destructiveness with equal delight.  Beware my beloved, because he will
watch your dance, and copy it, but he has not your grace, and the end of his destructive dance will be placed at your door!
 
Will we be happy Mother?
  
Yes my children, you will be happy before long.  Remember that the time of trials is not so great and if you have courage and cunning you will outwit the oldest cat, win the heart of the Queen, make a slave of the Prince and, if you are lucky, earn the indifference of the other subjects of the Queen.
 
Will you always love us Mother?
  
No my beloved, in time I shall tire of your sharp teeth and your endless
play, and I will long for the quiet time, when I can sleep and eat, and
have no more worries.
 
Will we miss you, Mother?
 
No, my beloved, you will long for space and new lands, and the things that will be your own, not shared with your brothers. And you will long for the love of the Prince and the approval of the Queen.  And before long, you will not remember me, or this land any longer.
 
We will always love you, Mother, and remember your lessons.  But Mother, what of the lands where there are no other cats?
  
Ah, my beloved, that is a story for another night!  Now snuggle down and
suckle while you can, and dream of the new countries.

~ Author Unknown