Yael Borensztein & Phoebe

 “Growing up, my siblings and I enjoyed the company of geckos, turtles, a DIY backyard pond- never anything furry or snuggly. So not long into my newly independent young adult life, I decided it was time to go in on the real thing and adopt a puppy. Eleven humiliating and angsty days later, I called it quits and rehomed her. While I had determined that puppies are definitely cuter when I didn’t bring them home with me, I was still yearning for a fuzzy friend. About a year later, I volunteered at BARC in Williamsburg to see how I would do with cats. The truth is, I walked right by Phoebe that day. She was about 12 weeks old at the time and I was really hoping to bring home something that could maybe fit into a coffee mug, so I marched straight to the teeny guys in the back. When I returned to BARC 2 weeks later, the littlest ones were being adopted, but a sweet, curious faced little girl was pointed out to me. I scooped Phoebe up like a baby, she reached up and patted my cheek with her paw, and my whole world lit up. Five years later, I still get cheek pats if she’s in the right mood.

About a year and a half ago, my brother and his Devon Rex moved in with us. While we had high hopes that the cousins would be instant besties, I would say they tolerate each other at best, and have daily cat fights at worst. What our new roommates have solidified, however, is that I am hers and she is mine. She answers to me when I call for her, and anywhere around me is her safe space. She is, of course, mine.”Yael Borensztein is a nurse, birth doula and lactation consultant who moved to NYC from Massachusetts, Oregon and/or Argentina 7 years ago. She and Phoebe live in the East Village where Phoebe supports Yael in the development of bornknowing.co (@born.knowing), a springboard for people to come together to explore their thoughts, feelings and anxieties about their reproductive bodies and the childbearing experience.