Paw-some And Purr-fect Cat Buddies

Paw-some And Purr-fect Cat Buddies

Kittens! Who doesn’t love these tiny, adorable miniature fireballs of energy? Their wobbly heads, giant eyes, tiny pink paws and nose, and the adorable mews they make, are irresistible. They find a way to snuggle their way into our hearts with no effort at all. My City Links got in touch with a few cat-persons who purrfectly celebrate the cuddly warmth of a kitty today, which is National Kitten Day!

Nishit Patra and Miu

Nishit has been a dog person since his childhood. But when his wife introduced him to a ferocious black cat, Nazar Battu, his affection grew towards these feline creatures. And now he fathers half a dozen of them along with a dog. “We already had about 6 cats and a dog when one day my wife brought in Miu. She was this scared frail little baby, afraid yet full of hisses and attacks. Apparently my wife found her in the middle of a busy road, stuck under a car. I wanted to give her away as soon as I heard of her, but my wife put on her watery puppy eyes, and I had to give in. I connected with this ball of fur when she wouldn’t eat at all, except when I fed her. She would wait for me to come home whenever I am out. She is literally a fearless champ. From attacking the older cats and our dog to proclaiming her place next to me on my pillow, she unabashedly secured herself in our hearts. She is very quarrelsome and wouldn’t let anyone rest when she’s around. My love for all animals has always been ingrained in me, and Miu being the youngest now, has my heart.”

Dr. Farheen Begum with Billu and Snow

Owning a stray and a Persian cat, Dr. Farheen shares her bond with both the felines. “Often shunned by society for being unlucky and ominous, I believe my black cats have been very lucky for me. From being my stress-buster to being my companions at home, they have indeed changed my perspective towards life. Billu entered my life as a stray kitten abandoned by his mother. We instantly took this little ball of happiness in. He was just perfect. We watched him grow from being a weak kitten to a strong but very lazy cat. The best thing is when he comes running to me every time I come back home from the hospital. We share the same bed, in fact it feels more like I am sleeping on his bed. It was a pure and instant bond. My day remains incomplete without him annoying me.”

“Before I was introduced to Snow, I was a complete dog person. I literally freaked out when I was told that my mother had bought a cat home. But when I met her, it was love at first sight. I got totally attached to her instantly. Because of my craze for Games Of Thrones, I named her Snow. The funniest thing is that we were initially informed that she is a boy, but later on we realised that she was a girl.”  

Shakespeare King and Dazel – The Cat

“Dazel entered into my life in January 2020 as a cute little quiet kitten. But as she grew comfortable around me, she progressed into a fun playful kitty. Since I live alone in Mumbai, she is my partner in everything I do. I know it sounds strange but we watch television, browse the internet, eat and sleep together. She’s quite introverted but very affectionate. She loves to cuddle and so do I. We are basically soulmates. The pandemic has only strengthened our bond. I often joke around my friends and family that I need to work hard enough so that my kitty can lead a luxurious life. She loves resting her tiny pretty head on my feet for hours. She’s the apple of my eye. Dazel, my darling, has filled my life with positivity, happiness and love. Being a Persian cat, she is very high maintenance, but who is not in today’s world. At the end of the day when she sleeps on my biceps, it is a blissful feeling and I think she’s totally worth it. Meow forever.”

Azkiya and Masood with Cookie, Custard and Kulfi

Azkiya and Masood are parents to three lovely cats, with whom they have crossed boundaries and travelled across countries as well. “Masood got attached to my kitty, Cookie, and so when he went back to the US after our engagement, he adopted Custard there. It was his first time around a pet cat and he seemed to be enjoying it. When me and the entire family were prepping for our big move to the US, after our marriage, Masood was more busy checking every norm and regulations that existed for pet travel than prepping up for the wedding. Hadn’t it been for his efforts, I don’t think I could have ever gotten the courage to fly with a cat. After moving to the US amidst the pandemic and still struggling with all the visa and immigration issues, we adopted Kulfi out of the blue. Hadn’t it been for the cats, the lockdown would have driven us crazy. We now go on road trips with the cats. We drove from Austin to Toronto last year with them. Our last trip with the cats was to Montreal a few days ago. It’s like being with your family. Having them is like having a family around, in sickness and health. They have taught us to be compassionate and kind and better human beings.”

Pranshul Awasthi and Bella – The Swiss Cat

Initially afraid of pets in general, Pranshul shared how she found solace in Bella after relocating to Switzerland and how this Swiss cat introduced her to a whole new emotion. “Bella walked into our lives here in Basel last year during the lockdown. This fluffy ball of love used to sit in our backyard everyday. Upon enquiring in the neighborhood about her owner we were heartbroken to find out that her previous owners had abandoned her and treated themselves with new kitties. What was definitely a cruel loss for them turned into the biggest blessing for us! The very next day we took her to the vet and got her vaccinated and microchipped. This is how she became an inseparable part of our lives. We now celebrate her birthday on 1st of December where she is treated with heaps of her favorite salmon and tuna treats. To me, Bella is an Angel.”

Satyajit Dash with Kitti and Kitoo

For Satyajit, getting introduced to these adorable fancy feline creatures was an act of impulse and it has only brought him happiness. “Kitti and Kitoo just happened by luck. I got them both when I saw a few neighborhood kids playing with a kitten one evening. Since then, they are one major motivation for me to wake up every morning and be up and moving. Every time they meow I respond with a meow. Cats are very articulate with their emotions. They can communicate when they are hungry, thirsty, or want a door open so that they can go out. Kitti and Kitoo both are siblings and they feel safe around me and I get good company. Now they are five months old and growing fast. They are adorable creatures to observe. They are very straightforward with their needs. From cuddling to cozying up, they are quite frank with their demands. In fact they have taught me to be more patient and kind.”

Catherine Harrison and Snowflakes

An animal lover, Catherine found herself sad and forlorn when she had to leave home for higher studies. Little did she know that her sister would give her the best gift of her life, an adorable white ball of fur, Snowflakes. “I first saw Snowflakes, a small white, shy, beautiful tomcat, on a Sunday in July 2018. It had been three months since I shifted to Goa to pursue my studies and I was homesick. Sensing that, my sister Jennifer scoured the shelters for a kitten for me. And she found Snowflakes, who had been orphaned and was being fostered by her friend. God bless Jen for this wonderful gift because Snowflakes was exactly what I needed at that time. One look at those beautiful, hopeful, still greyish eyes (baby eyes) was enough to send my heart racing with happiness.” 

“I didn’t even want to go to college for a few days. I just could not get enough of this lovely white fur ball. And when I did go to college, I found myself eager to get back home to my new friend. Soon we settled into a routine; every day, Snow saw me off in the morning and then waited for me on the window patiently to return. I remember how we used to play and chase each other around the flat; he was always with me – while I was cooking, cleaning, studying, and while sleeping. Every day, day after day for three long years now. Long story short, from that first day onwards we have been inseparable. He is a large tomcat now, 3+ years old and as gorgeous now as he was on that first day when I saw him in the box. I am extremely grateful for this wonderful gift of love!,” she shared.

Jennifer Harrison and Peanut and Fairy 

A purrfect cat lady, Jennifer always manages to find a pawsome friend wherever she goes. Be it her at her home in Bhubaneswar or her college in Goa or her current residence in Australia, these adorable feline creatures find a way into her heart and her house. “When I first moved out to study for my Bachelors, it was a whole new world for me. I had an apartment and my only company was the stupid box. It wasn’t too much longer before this changed. One day, a friend in college came running to me, “You love cats, don’t you? Well, hurry up! They’re a few menacing boys bullying two kittens. You should take them home!” And that was it. I brought home these lovely siblings, Peanut and Fairy and my small apartment seemed to have been illuminated with a happy aura altogether. They were my babies, my happiness. There wasn’t a minute when I was alone anymore. The little ones would climb through my jeans to perch themselves on my shoulder or curl onto my stomach when I’d sit or sleep. Fairy was white, chirpy, a little princess, while Peanut was more of a touch me not, and I’ll shower you with lots of love. They’d come up to me and lick my nose when I’d cry, and nestle beside my neck and on my tummy on an ordinary night. They’re little angels! Peanut and Fairy had babies (Jinxie and Nixie), and their babies had more babies (Nixie and Kaizen gave birth to Don and Donna). Today, my not-so-little ones are with Mum and her gazillion fur babies, living the Cat Grandparent Life in style in our Cat-iary.”