Anna, Ramses, Freya & Regina
For better or worse, I am known as THE cat lady at work. I did not have any cats growing up but on a couple occasions, my sister and I helped find forever homes for the dumped cats we befriended in the forest behind our family’s restaurant business. Perhaps those deeds were a harbinger of my life today. After being spurred on by tales of a colleague’s fostering exploits, I signed up with a local rescue organization @MeowParlour during the thick of the pandemic. Several months into fostering, my husband and I were assigned a trio who, though unrelated, had come up through the rescue shelter together. My husband has fond memories of his childhood cat and we always agreed we would adopt. One week in, it became apparent we had a foster-cat fail situation on our hands. We could not choose among them and so we applied to adopt the whole group.
Ramses, an athletic Siamese mix, is the fearless alpha male of the bunch who lives life to the fullest. Nothing happens in our household without Ramses leading the way. His expressive eyes, dynamic energy, and pedicured paws make for an irresistible package. I adore all of my cats but he may just be my ride or die. He is extremely active, attention-seeking, and true to his roots, easily the most vocal cat I’ve encountered. We have a cat wheel and he is known for running on it at top speed while meowing loudly to be acknowledged. LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME! He also has an extremely affectionate side; nighttime cuddles are mandatory and he's known to interrupt my work video calls by promptly curling up in a ball on my mousepad with a deeply happy purr. It’s not uncommon to hear exasperated cries of RAMSES! among our family when he is hamming things up.
Regina beats to her own drum, both in terms of personality and looks. She was categorized as a Siamese American bobtail mix on her rescue profile. She has fluffy soft fur, deep blue eyes, tall ear tufts, and ombre striping all wrapped up in a stocky body. No bag—paper or plastic— is safe from the Reginator. She’ll tamp it down, pry it open again for a temporary napping nest. Friends and family alike have experienced her signature greeting of sandpapery kisses and her fetish involves licking the shower curtain. Although there’s always an adjustment period with fosters, Regina unfailingly assigns herself as the designated caregiver in chief. Kittens do not escape her cleaning sessions for long. She’s definitely my hubby’s favorite, when she isn’t getting the attention she deserves from him, she’ll gently place a paw on his arm as if to say: “Hey there. I’m here”
Regina
Last but not least the baby is Freya. She is the ingenue with her semi-permanent concerned stare, apricot-hued fur, and curly tail. And though she’s known to be the most aloof or distant of our cats, Freya loves to be held and sleep draped over loved ones—completely disregarding the concept of personal space. True to her iconoclast nature, she insists on being fed her treats separately, she’ll stay in place and stare until the treats come to her. She does not meow much but when she does you can place it easily, her meow is unmistakable and distinct. Working at home can be a struggle with Freya as she actively seeks out the warmth my laptop emits and I’ve had to pull her off my laptop (much to her obvious annoyance) when I’ve walked away briefly! Her other quirks include rolling around enthusiastically in fresh litter, standing up like a meerkat, and gnawing at bits of cardboard, paper, and blinds.
For the most part, they all get along but Ramses has bully-like tendencies and it’s amusing to watch the girls rally to keep him in check. Even though the cats are separated in age by a month each, we refer to Regina as the monarch of the group because she’s usually breaking up fights among the other two or the first to welcome our temporary feline visitors.
There’s something to be said about the benefits of cat ownership on mental health. I mean, it’s not hard to make the connection since cats have the uncanny ability to land on their feet! For myself, having neurodivergent features means work, relationships can be challenging and there are often mishaps and disappointments not to mention a never-ending balancing act to avoid burnout. But overcoming adversity and developing resilience would be immeasurably harder without our cats. Whether it’s Ramses' insistent meows or Regina’s boxer strength “biscuits”, or Freya’s measured stoicism, all their antics and needs provide me with an environment where I feel it’s okay to be me.
Anna pushes paper for a local asset manager. When she is not working or hanging out with her cats, she enjoys running, cooking, and traveling with her husband.