Laura Grasso & Steven
I adopted Steven in 2017 sort of on a whim—I had grown up with cats but hadn’t had one for about 12 years despite being a lifelong cat lover. It hadn’t really occurred to me that I could just get a pet as an adult until a fateful bottomless Easter brunch, and the next thing I knew I was deep in Craigslist listings setting up appointments to view cats. I ended up in touch with Good Home Pet Adoption, who had three cats available—one with white fur, one with a dietary issue, and a runt who hid the entire time. We fished out the hidden cat from under the couch and I snapped her up. This was my Stevie Nicks. And then, within a day of getting her home, she was immediately Steven.
Steven has been with me through many roommates, a long-term relationship, a temporary relocation, and now is my sole companion in my studio apartment. This past year that we have been on our own has taught me so much about Steve and we have gotten so much closer. She greets me at the door every day and pokes me with her paw to wake me up in the morning so I can come to the couch and she can sit on my lap. Steve absolutely loves tummy time and many parts of our daily ritual involve her flopping on the ground and waiting to be ferociously pet. She is also extremely vocal and communicates in little squeaks—I only ever get a full-bodied meow when she’s displeased, and that only occurs when I leave her to go on vacation. She is extremely affectionate and loves to headbutt me for attention because above all she LOVES company. I sometimes think about getting a second cat for her since she is 7 now, but I genuinely think she craves human attention above all else.
Steven is a big sweetie but has a ferocious side to her that comes out on rare occasions. She is a skilled huntress when the rogue mouse appears, and in her play, she is ready to hide and attack the ribbon toy like a little assassin. There was a period not long after I got her when a roommate moved in with two other cats that were all over Steve’s territory (my room) and would chase her and swipe at her all the time. Then one night the bigger cat clawed me in front of Steve and when I came back in the room after getting ointment, I heard a hiss and scuffle and then Steve sauntered through the door ahead of me, proud to have defended my honor. I tend to think of Steven as a runty little baby (she is), but I know she has the fight in her when it needs to come out.
We have a really special bond that I can sense when I look into her eyes when she’s particularly relaxed and affectionate. She has such a beautiful little face and big green eyes and quite literally the softest fur I’ve ever felt. Sometimes people misgender her because of her name, but she is such a prim little lady in her mannerisms and movements, every action she takes is delicate and graceful. One of my good friends calls her a “bumper car” because her tail is always high in the air and it brings me so much joy to know she is such a happy cat. Steven is also a guest star in my Zoom Spanish classes, known to us there as Esteban, la tigresa, who always makes sure to block the camera. She has many fans amongst my group of friends and is quite the star of my Instagram stories. People always tell me they would only get a cat if they can ensure that the cat will be just like Steven. I feel so lucky to have such a sweet little lap cat, Steven, the biggest baby of all time.
Laura is a costume professional for film and television and lives in Brooklyn. In her spare time she enjoys fiber arts, line dancing, and attending birthday parties.