Becky Palley & Ray
As an adult in NYC, it’s been on my wish list to get my own place and a cat. February of 2020, I finally found THE spot, and then…COVID. I had planned to wait for a few months to start searching for my feline friend, but after a week in lockdown, I figured “If not now, when? If not me, who?” and started my search. Because I wasn’t able to go look for a cat in-person, I took to the internet searching local cat adoption agency pages until I saw Ray’s cutie photo pop up one day (she had been rescued from the streets of the Bronx by @puppykittynycity) and…the rest is history.
She was originally named Paprika, but I thought that was too long of a name. I tried to crowdsource names via Instagram polls (beignet or basil or bagel? I guess I like the letter B). I ended up going rogue and naming her Ray, like Ray of Sunshine, because she brought sunshine into my days during early COVID.
I think Ray is almost three, but I’m not quite sure. She’s a petite tortie and white cat (not quite a dwarf cat, but a bit of a low rider; not quite enough white to be a calico), with a fun orange stripe on her nose, white mittens, and socks.
When I took her in for her first vet appointment, the vet asked if I’d noticed she was missing teeth when I looked around her mouth (as if people normally open their cat’s mouths?). I hadn’t. Based on what he saw, he said she could be a young kitten with teeth still growing in or a malnourished older cat. Her teeth never grew in (a couple more have fallen out), but she still likes to chase and play like a younger cat, so the mystery remains.
“My regular catsitter has commented on the confidence and poise in Ray’s little body as she moves throughout the apartment, willing you to follow her, but acting somewhat disinterested as you do.”
Ray is a fierce, funny little lady. Her eyes often seem to be in “puss in boots” mode, making her look extra adorable. She loves to have her belly rubbed (she will actually respond to “Ray, show me your belly!” by flopping on her back) and makes most of my apartment guests feel super special and loved by following them to the bathroom, and inviting them to rub her belly and cuddle her (not young kids, though—they freak her out!).
Likes: tin foil balls, string, bell rubs, bunny kicking, and looking at birds/my neighbors through the window. Dislikes: loud noises (talking about you, vacuum cleaner!), sudden movements, and being bothered when she’s sleeping.
Ray is the tent pole to my day. She wakes me up in the morning (by sitting on me in bed and bunny kicking me until I get up), hangs out on my kitchen table while I do my morning workouts, monitors me from her bed as I work from home, naps on the ottoman when I watch TV, runs to the front door when I come home from an outing, and generally keeps me company. I try to keep things interesting for her by keeping toys around and randomly dangling/throwing them so she can run around and play.
Ray is very loved. My good friend and her family watch Ray at their house for me when I take longer trips, and while I feel like I’m imposing on them, they always assure me that I don’t need to rush back and thank me for letting her stay with them because they love having her around. Another good friend has said she doesn’t like cats, but she loves Ray.
Friends have told me that Ray is the cat version of me. She’s friendly, she’s cute, but when she wants to be alone, or even to sit NEXT to you and not ON you, you should leave her alone. My regular catsitter has commented on the confidence and poise in Ray’s little body as she moves throughout the apartment, willing you to follow her, but acting somewhat disinterested as you do. My mom has said, “It’s very clear a cat lives in your apartment” and that “Ray is so lucky she’s found you” (because I indulge her).
She’s not the most affectionate cat (she’s not the quickest to purr and isn’t a regular lap cat), but it’s clear we’re bonded and she’ll tolerate me being around. I try to get her to help me with bugs, but she either follows them around like they’re an interactive toy or doesn’t notice they’ve entered the room. I guess we can put a pin in that!
A week after getting Ray, she was very quiet and lethargic so I decided to take her to an emergency vet to make sure she was OK. It turns out she had a fever of 105 (a temperature that’s very dangerous for cats, I was informed) and two infections: one in her ears and one in her intestines. I probably would have always been a neurotic cat owner, but having a scare like that so early on has definitely made me feel closer and more in tune with her.
I feel really lucky to have found Ray. She makes me laugh every day and is even helping me fulfill my dream of having a pet with an Instagram account (follow her @sweet_baby_rays_gram!). She really is a Ray of Sunshine, so I guess I named her well.
Becky Palley works in marketing as a communications manager at a small software company and is fully remote (which means lots of time with Ray). She loves bright colors, animals, interior design, comedy, reality TV, and being open to new things.