The year: 1421.
The location: The Netherlands.
The circumstance: big ol' flood.
The drama: a cat saved a hapless baby from drowning by alternately curling up by said baby and jumping on the other end of the cradle to keep it balanced and upright until they were rescued. From whence comes the expression "the cat's in the cradle".
True story or myth, it matters not. It is just another example of the average cat's selfless, self-sacrificing and compassionate nature and propensity for heroic deeds.
Of course, it also negotiated a handsome reward before putting in the effort to keep the baby afloat.
