Amanda Huelse, Paco & Luci
Amanda & Luci
I'm what they call a "foster fail." Having grown up with cats my whole life, I've always been a fan but was nervous to take on the responsibility of being a guardian. After a major breakup, I finally started fostering kittens for the SF SPCA. I successfully nurtured 6 pairs of kittens until Paco and Luci showed up fresh off the streets of Oakland. Paco was my first long-haired kitten and just a little fluff ball. Despite all his fur he was actually quite small and had trouble gaining weight, and as a result, I had them for over 6 weeks. By the end of our time together I was madly in love, but I still wasn't sure if I was ready to be a Cat Mama. I packed them up to return to the SF SPCA and got as far as handing the vet tech their carrier. As she started to walk away with them, so did my heart and I just shouted "But what if I want to keep them!" And from then on, we've been a happy little family. They've been through the wringer with me—we've moved across the country and lived in 4 different apartments throughout my 7 years in NYC. And now during COVID, they've been a huge source of love, support, and never-ending entertainment.
“Through all my life changes and world crises, I say without a doubt that they are one of the best decisions I’ve made in my adult life.”
Luci is Queen Bee Alpha of Everything—including me of course. I like to joke that Paco is Luci's cat. She treats him like she owns him and he just puts up with it. If I lock her out of a room, he pines for her at the door. He generally lets her hiss and be bratty at him and his response is to basically lie on his back belly up. In return, Luci lets Paco steal food from her plate. My vet says "They have an arrangement."
Luci sleeps with me every night and is a very needy girl when it comes to affection. If I leave for a day or two, Paco greets me at the door and Luci gives me the cold shoulder for 24 hours before then attacking me with head butts and rubs, never leaving my side. She's at ease with humans and likes to demonstrate her ownership of all things to any newcomers in the house by sitting on or rubbing against anything they bring into the house.
Paco, on the other hand, is a one-woman guy and generally will only let me hold/pet him, with the exception of anyone hand-feeding him salmon. He HATES boys, so it's been a great test for any guy that comes into my life. My current boyfriend has learned to put up with his hisses (which are really Paco's way of greeting him at this point) and has offered his fair share of bribes, slipping him bits of sushi-grade fish and strip steak.
Through all my life changes and world crises, I say without a doubt that they are one of the best decisions I've made in my adult life.
Fun Fact: They're named for the prolific flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia. And very shortly after he became their namesake, he died unexpectedly. I like to think he lives on in their meows!
Amanda Huelse is a commercial producer from Northern California who moved to NYC from San Francisco 7 years ago; She continues to live a bi-coastal life as much as possible (though COVID has put a damper on that). In her spare time, she writes screenplays, produces short films, and attempts to be good at life!