The Dog, The Cat & Their Friends: A Bedtime Story
This is a Calming Sleepy Story, written and narrated by me. Tonight, we’ll embark on a cozy adventure into the heart of a peaceful village, where a lonely dog, a wise cat, and an unexpected guest will change everything. Together, they’ll explore the bonds of friendship and the warmth of new beginnings... Narration and Sound Design by Stephen Dalton
Transcript
Hello,
My friend.
Welcome to your sleep story.
My name is Stephen Dalton.
I'm an Irish storyteller,
And it's my great privilege to be the voice that you listen to as you go to sleep tonight.
You know I love dogs.
I never stop talking about my little dog,
Timmy.
In fact,
He's lying right next to me as I record this story.
And I also love the relationships between different species of animals.
How they care for each other.
How we can learn so much from them when we see them being kind to each other.
And so I decided to write this story about a dog and a cat and some other friends that you're going to hear about throughout the story.
I hope you like it.
Okay,
Let's do the relaxation session now,
Which will take a few minutes,
Before tonight's sleep story.
I'm going to count down from 10 to 1.
And as I do,
Allow yourself to let go more and more.
10.
Feel the support of the bed beneath you.
Or the floor.
Or whatever you lie upon tonight.
Really feel that support.
11.
And as you do,
Allow yourself to let go a little more now.
And beneath whatever you lie upon,
Know that the Earth is supporting you.
12.
Feel the solidity of it.
The constantness of it.
It is always there,
Supporting you.
So just let go now.
13.
You are safe.
Allow my voice to be an anchor of safety for you tonight.
Know that I will not take you anywhere that is unsafe.
Allow my voice to be a friend.
To be a calming guide.
And see if this feeling of safety can enable you to let go a little bit more now.
Feel into your body.
Where are you holding tonight?
14.
Maybe it's in your feet.
Maybe your lower legs.
Maybe your belly.
Maybe your chest.
Or maybe your face.
I know I always hold in my face.
See if you can just relax everything now.
15.
The day is done.
Whatever has been,
Has been.
And whatever will be,
Will be.
Whatever thoughts you may still be having tonight,
They are not useful now.
Don't fight them.
See them for what they are.
Thoughts.
16.
Allow them to arrive.
Even welcome them.
And then,
Gently,
Watch them depart.
Like leaves on a moonlit river.
Or clouds passing in a moonlit sky.
17.
Peace lives within you.
It is always there,
Waiting to be found.
18.
See if you can find it tonight.
See if you can say hello to that peace.
For it is your constant friend.
And if you do feel it,
Where do you feel it?
Is it in your head?
Or is it in your heart?
5.
This is your moment.
This is your time.
You have nowhere to go.
Nowhere to be.
Allow that fact to enable you to let go a little more now.
To really be in this moment.
4.
Perhaps feel a little gratitude now.
For the shelter you have tonight.
For the simple things,
Like your body and your breath.
For the ability to listen to this sleep story tonight.
3.
Begin to engage with your imagination now.
Begin to see a little house in a little village.
And a little elderly couple.
And their little dog.
In a beautiful land,
Long ago.
2.
Check in with your body one more time now.
3.
See where you might still be holding.
And if you are holding anywhere,
Feel the release.
Completely letting go now.
4.
As I tell you tonight's sleep story.
Once upon a time,
A long,
Long time ago.
There lived a little old lady and a little old man.
In a little old village,
Far,
Far away.
From all that you or I know.
But this story isn't really about them.
For the old couple had a little dog.
And for the longest time,
They could not work out why their dog seemed so sad.
He had everything that he could possibly want.
A cozy bed by the fire.
Two loving owners.
All the food he could want.
But still,
He was unhappy.
Seasons passed.
Spring turned to summer.
Summer to autumn.
Autumn to winter.
And still,
The dog wasn't happy.
Then,
One snowy Sunday,
As the three companions,
The old couple and the dog,
Sat by the roaring fire.
They heard a little tap on the porch door.
The little old lady paused in her knitting.
And the little old man set down his newspaper.
Both turning their attention to the door.
The dog,
Lying by the fire,
With his head resting on his paws,
Lifted his ears at the sound.
The tapping came again.
Soft,
But insistent.
Like a tiny creature asking to be let in from the cold.
The old man stood up slowly.
His joints creaking like the wooden floor beneath him.
And he made his way to the porch door.
He unlatched it and gently pulled it open.
Letting in a swirl of icy air.
And a flurry of snowflakes.
But what caught his attention?
Wasn't the cold.
Or the snow.
It was the small,
Shivering figure.
Standing just outside.
A little cat.
No bigger than a kitten.
With fur as white as the snow that fell around it.
Stood on the doorstep.
Its big,
Blue eyes looked up at the old man.
Full of hope.
And a touch of sadness.
As if it had traveled far.
And was longing for warmth and safety.
Without a moment's hesitation,
The old man bent down and scooped the cat up into his arms.
The little old lady,
Seeing the tiny guest,
Quickly rose from her chair.
Her heart melting at the sight of the cold,
Shivering creature.
She fetched a soft blanket and wrapped it around the cat.
Who purred softly as it nestled into the warmth.
The dog,
Still lying by the fire.
Watched all of this with a growing curiosity.
His brown eyes,
Which had been dull with sadness for so long.
Seemed to brighten just a little as he observed the scene.
The old couple brought the cat closer to the fire.
Setting it down gently on the hearth rug.
The little cat stretched out its paws,
Kneading the soft fabric beneath it.
And then,
Curled up into a tight ball.
Its tiny body,
Finally relaxing.
As it soaked up the warmth of the fire.
The old lady smiled at her husband.
A silent understanding,
Passing between them.
They would keep this little cat and give it the home it so clearly needed.
But,
As the cat began to purr contentedly,
Something else happened.
Something the old couple could not have predicted.
The dog,
Who had been so quiet and withdrawn for so long.
Suddenly stood up and walked over to the little cat.
He sniffed it cautiously,
His tail wagging slightly as he did so.
The cat opened its eyes and looked up at him,
Its gaze gentle and unafraid.
For a moment,
Something seemed to shift within the dog.
The loneliness and sadness that had weighed him down for so long,
Began to lift.
Replaced by a feeling of warmth and companionship that he had never known before.
He laid down beside the cat,
Pressing his body close to the little bundle of fur.
And,
For the first time in a long while,
He felt truly happy.
The old couple watched with smiles on their faces,
Their hearts full,
As they saw the dog they loved so dearly,
Finally finding the comfort he had been longing for.
The fire crackled softly in the hearth,
And outside,
The snow continued to fall,
Blanketing the village in a peaceful silence.
Inside the cozy cottage,
The dog and the cat lay side-by-side,
Two friends who had found each other at last.
As winter settled firmly over the little village,
The landscape was transformed into a wonderland of snow and ice.
The fields and hills that surrounded the cottage were covered in a thick,
Soft blanket.
Of white,
And the trees,
Their branches heavy with snow,
Stood tall and beautiful in the cold.
The days were short,
With the sun barely making its way above the horizon.
Before dipping down again,
Leaving the world bathed in the soft,
Blue light of winter.
Inside the cozy cottage,
The fire in the hearth burned brightly.
The dog and the cat had quickly become inseparable companions,
Spending their days curled up together by the fire,
Their bodies pressed close for warmth and comfort.
The old couple often smiled as they watched the two friends.
Knowing that the little cat had brought a joy and light back into their dog's life that had been missing for so long.
One cold afternoon,
As the wind howled outside and the snow fell in gentle,
Swirling flakes,
The cat stretched luxuriously and hopped off the rug,
Padding over to the window.
It placed its paws on the sill and peered out,
Its breath fogging the glass as it gazed at the wintry world beyond.
The dog,
Curious as ever,
Followed the cat,
His tail wagging slowly as he watched his friend.
The cat turned and looked at the dog,
Its eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.
It hopped down from the window and walked over to the door,
Tapping it gently with its paw,
As if to say,
Let's go outside.
The dog tilted his head,
Considering the suggestion,
And then barked softly in agreement.
The old man,
Noticing their interest in the outside world,
Chuckled and rose from his chair,
Making his way to the door.
Do you want to go out and play then?
He asked,
His voice warm with affection.
He opened the door just a crack,
Letting in the cold air.
The cat and the dog bounded outside,
Their excitement palpable as they leapt into the fresh snow.
The snow was deep,
Almost reaching the dog's belly.
But that didn't deter him.
He bounded through it with ease,
His golden fur contrasting beautifully against the white.
The cat,
Lighter and more agile,
Danced across the surface of the snow,
Leaving only the faintest prints behind.
Together,
They explored the snow-covered garden,
Their breath puffing out in little clouds as they played.
The dog,
Overcome with joy,
Began to dig in the snow,
His paws moving quickly as he unearthed little hidden treasures beneath the surface.
Sticks,
Leaves,
And even a small frozen apple.
The cat watched with keen interest,
Her green eyes bright with curiosity.
She would occasionally dart in to inspect what the dog had found,
Before prancing off to chase the snowflakes that drifted down from the sky.
As the light began to fade and the world outside grew colder,
The dog and the cat finally tired of their play.
They made their way back to the cottage,
Their fur dusted with snow,
And the old man welcomed them inside,
Closing the door against the chill.
The warmth of the fire greeted them,
And they quickly returned to their favorite spot on the rug,
Curling up together with contented sighs.
Then,
The days started to grow longer,
And the warmth of the sun began to melt away The last traces of winter,
And the little village slowly awakened to the promise of spring.
The snow that had blanketed the fields and hills receded,
Revealing the tender green shoots of new life pushing through the earth.
Inside the cozy cottage,
The dog and the cat sensed the change in the air.
Their days of curling up by the fire and playing in the snow had given way to a new kind of energy,
A curiosity and excitement for the world outside that had begun to bloom with the arrival of spring.
The dog,
With his keen nose,
Could smell the fresh scents carried on the breeze,
And the cat,
Ever observant,
Watched as birds returned to the trees,
Their songs filling the air with music.
One morning,
Very early,
The cat stood by the door,
Tapping it gently with her paw.
The dog was already by her side,
His tail wagging in anticipation.
The little old man,
Who had grown accustomed to their adventures,
Opened the door with a smile,
And the two friends bounded out into the world.
The garden,
Which had been their winter playground,
Was now transformed into a paradise of color and life.
The grass was lush and soft underfoot,
And the flowerbeds were bursting with tulips,
Daffodils,
And crocuses in every shade imaginable.
Bees buzzed by lazily from bloom to bloom,
And butterflies flitted through the air,
Their wings catching the sunlight.
Eager to explore,
The dog and the cat ventured beyond the garden,
Following a path that led through the village and out into the countryside.
The fields that stretched before them were dotted with wildflowers,
And in the distance,
They could see the woods,
Their canopy of fresh leaves,
Beckoning them to come closer.
As they walked,
They encountered other animals,
Some familiar,
And some new.
A pair of rabbits darted across their path,
Their white tails bobbing as they disappeared into the undergrowth.
The dog and the cat soon found themselves at the edge of a small pond,
Its surface shimmering in the sunlight.
They paused to drink,
Lapping up the cool,
Fresh water.
And as they rested by the water's edge,
A family of ducks emerged from the reeds,
The little ducklings paddling away.
The mother duck quacked softly,
Herding the brood away from the dog and the cat.
It was here,
By the pond,
That the change began.
The dog,
Usually content to follow the cat's lead,
Noticed something in the reeds,
Something small and shivering,
Hidden from view.
He barked softly,
Drawing the cat's attention,
And together,
They approached the reeds,
Their movements slow and cautious.
There,
Nestled among the reeds,
Was a tiny hedgehog,
No bigger than the cat's paw.
It was curled into a tight ball,
Its spines bristling in fear.
The dog and the cat exchanged a look,
Their usual playfulness,
Giving way to concern.
The little creature was clearly frightened and alone,
And they knew they couldn't leave it behind.
The cat,
Ever the more delicate of the two,
Moved closer,
And she gently nudged the hedgehog with her nose.
The dog sat back,
His presence a calming reassurance,
As he watched over them.
Slowly,
Very slowly,
The hedgehog uncurled,
Revealing its tiny face.
It looked up at the cat,
And then at the dog,
As if realizing that these strangers meant no harm.
And with a new sense of purpose,
The dog and the cat decided to help their new friend.
They knew they couldn't leave the hedgehog by the pond,
Where it might be vulnerable.
So,
The cat carefully nudged the hedgehog onto the dog's back,
And together,
They made their way back to the cottage.
The little hedgehog holding on tightly,
As the dog walked steadily along the path.
When they arrived home,
The old couple were surprised to see the new addition to their family.
But,
They welcomed the hedgehog with the same warmth and kindness they had shown the cat.
They found a small,
Cozy box,
Lined with soft cloth for the hedgehog to sleep in.
And the dog and the cat watched over their new friend,
Proud of the small adventure they had shared.
As the days passed,
The bond between the dog,
The cat,
And the hedgehog grew stronger.
The hedgehog became more confident,
Exploring the garden with the cat,
And even playing gentle games with the dog.
And together,
The three friends spent their days sharing in the simple pleasures of life in the heart of nature.
As the warm days of summer settled over the little village,
The world outside the cozy cottage was alive with the sounds of nature.
The air was thick with the scent of blooming flowers,
And ripe fruit,
And the days were long and lazy.
The dog,
The cat,
And the hedgehog spent their days exploring the sun-drenched landscape,
Basking in the warmth of the season.
One warm evening,
As the sun dipped below the horizon,
And the first stars began to twinkle in the sky,
The dog,
The cat,
And the hedgehog decided to take a walk.
The air was still and filled with the soft chirping of crickets,
And the grass beneath their paws was cool and damp with the evening dew.
The village was quiet,
The cottages glowing softly in the fading light,
And the friends felt a sense of calm as they took their evening walk.
They followed a familiar path that led them through the fields and towards the edge of the woods.
They had walked this path many times before,
And as they entered the woods,
The world around them grew quieter.
The moon,
Now high in the sky,
Was beautifully hanging above them.
A friend,
Keeping them safe and lighting the way for them.
The dog led the way,
His nose to the ground,
While the cat and the hedgehog followed close behind.
They hadn't gone far when they heard a kind of hooting sound coming from somewhere above.
The dog stopped in his tracks and looked around.
The cat scanned the trees,
Searching for the source of the sound.
And then,
As the hedgehog sniffed the air,
They all saw it.
A small owl perched on a low branch,
Its wings slightly drooped,
As if it were tired or injured.
The owl's large,
Round eyes glowed in the moonlight as it looked down at the three friends.
The dog,
Always the protector,
Could sense something was wrong with the owl.
The cat,
Ever the agile climber,
Sprang up onto the branch beside the owl,
Her movements careful and slow.
The owl hooted again,
And the cat realized that one of the owl's wings was a little out of place.
The cat nuzzled the owl gently,
And the dog,
Who was standing below,
Barked softly to the hedgehog,
Who had an idea.
There was a clearing not far from here,
Where they could bring the owl to rest and recover.
Gently,
The cat coaxed the owl onto her back,
Careful not to jostle its injured wing.
The dog stood close by,
Ready to catch the owl if it lost its balance.
And together,
They made their way through the woods to the clearing.
The clearing was bathed in moonlight,
The grass soft and inviting.
The hedgehog scurried ahead,
Finding a spot where the owl could rest comfortably.
Once they reached the clearing,
The cat carefully lowered the owl to the ground,
And the dog circled protectively around them,
Ensuring that the owl was safe.
The hedgehog brought over a few soft leaves,
Creating a makeshift bed for the owl,
Who hooted softly in thanks as it settled down to rest.
The three friends stayed with the owl for some time,
Keeping watch as it slept.
And as the night wore on,
The stars shimmered above them like a thousand tiny lanterns.
Soon,
The owl's breathing became steady and calm,
With its injured wing tucked gently by its side.
The dog,
The cat,
And the hedgehog curled up nearby,
Their eyes growing heavy as they listened to the soft rustle of the trees through the forest.
After some time,
They had all rested well,
And the owl had regained some of its strength.
He stretched his wings tentatively,
Testing the air.
But instead of flying away,
The owl looked at the three friends with a deep sense of gratitude.
The owl had found something here.
Among these kind creatures,
A sense of belonging,
Of safety,
And of family.
The owl blinked slowly,
As if to say,
May I stay with you?
The dog nodded softly in agreement.
The cat purred with approval,
And the hedgehog gave a little nod,
Happy to have a new friend join their group.
And together,
They made their way back to the cottage.
The owl perched on the dog's back,
Its wings now neatly folded.
As they reached the cottage,
Late in the night,
The old couple was surprised,
But delighted to see the new addition to their little family.
They made a cozy perch for the owl near the window,
Where it could watch the world outside during the day,
And keep an eye on its new friends at night.
As the summer days grew shorter,
And the first cool breezes of autumn began to whistle through the village,
The world outside the cozy cottage started to change once more.
The leaves on the trees turned shades of amber,
Gold,
And crimson,
And the air was crisp and carried the scent of wood smoke and earth,
Signaling the arrival of the season of harvest and reflection.
The dog,
The cat,
The hedgehog,
And the owl had grown even closer over the summer,
Their bond deepened by the many adventures they had shared.
One evening,
As they wandered through the woods,
They came across a path they had never noticed before.
A path that was hidden under a thick blanket of fallen leaves.
Curious,
They decided to follow it,
Their steps quiet and cautious.
The path wound its way through the trees,
Leading them to a small,
Secluded clearing that seemed untouched by time.
In the center of the clearing stood an old,
Hollowed-out tree,
Its trunk wide and gnarled with roots that spread out like fingers across the forest floor.
The owl,
Sensing something unusual,
Flew up to perch on one of the tree's low-hanging branches,
Its eyes gunning the ground below.
The dog and cat sniffed around the base of the tree,
Their instincts telling them that they were not alone.
It was then that the hedgehog,
With its sharp little nose,
Discovered something nestled in the roots of the tree.
A small,
Furry creature,
Barely moving,
Its eyes closed tight.
It was a tiny fox cub,
No bigger than the hedgehog itself.
The cub looked frail and scared,
As if it had been separated from its family,
And had been hiding here,
Hoping for some kind of protection.
The fox cub opened its eyes,
Blinking up at the faces of these soon-to-be new friends.
And let out a tiny,
Pitiful whine.
The dog,
Ever the caretaker,
Licked the fox cub's fur to clean and warm it,
While the cat wrapped her body around the little one,
To provide additional warmth.
The four friends looked at each other.
They knew that they couldn't leave the little fox cub alone in the woods.
And with great care,
The dog gently picked up the cub by the scruff of its neck,
Just as a mother fox would,
And carried it back along the path towards the cottage.
When they arrived home,
The old couple was once again surprised by the sight of a new addition to their little family.
But they didn't hesitate.
They found a warm,
Soft blanket,
And created a cozy bed for the fox cub near the fire,
Where it could rest and regain its strength.
The cub,
Exhausted from its ordeal,
Quickly fell asleep,
Its tiny body finally relaxing in the warmth and safety of the cottage.
The little fox would go on to grow stronger,
Nourished by the love and care of its new family.
And the dog,
The cat,
The hedgehog,
And the owl would each take turns watching over the cub,
Teaching it the ways of the world,
And including it in their adventures.
And so,
As the first snowflakes of winter began to come back around,
Almost a year exactly since the dog had sat alone so sadly by the fire,
The dog,
The cat,
The hedgehog,
The owl,
And the fox curled up together by the fire,
Watched over by the little old couple,
All ready to face the new season as a family.
4.9 (47)
Recent Reviews
Maureen
September 4, 2025
Beautiful- thanks you! Look forward to listening again! Many blessings.💙🙏
debby
May 2, 2025
Like the relax countdown at the beginning. Nice story as far as I got before falling asleep. Animal stories are always good 🦮🐈🦔 💕🦮This is now one of my go to sleep stories. Hearing about Timmy maybe there could be stories from his point of view about adventures with his people. His day at the beach, camping, a snowy day, a night time nature walk
Julie
April 8, 2025
Beautiful story so refreshing sounds like my husband and I….thank you 🙏🏻
Becka
April 2, 2025
Very sweet, thank you!❤️🙏🏼