Teagan Russell, Seven & Luna
I got both of my cats (or the Gals as we’ve started to call them) when I lived in Orlando, Florida in 2014. I wanted to get a cat so I started to creep on Petfinder and then set a date to go to the shelter. I had my eye on a black and white cat named Tuxedo. I wanted to be prepared so I went to my local Petsmart in Winter Park, FL to stock up on cat supplies. OF COURSE, I had to stop in and see their shelter cats and there was Seven, a very small kitty with a striking face. (Sorry Tux!)
She introduced herself with a pose and a tiny “mep.” She was underweight and so quiet… until I got her in the car to take her home. Even now, she tends to be very quiet, except when she has to go to the vet or will make a tiny little owl-like noise when she’s startled or excited. I always get questions and weird looks with Seven’s name. No, she’s not named for the serial killer movie, Se7en, but rather as an ode to George Costanza and his “perfect child name”. Perfect for a boy or girl OR cat!
Luna was not planned. I had to take Seven to get her booster shots and went to look at the cats. DUH! I had also had a few mimosas (don’t worry I wasn’t driving). Luna was this small, black kitten. Someone had adopted her brother and not her. I can’t fathom how they could have left her behind. Growing up, I had two siblings cats—Jack and Jill, who lived with my Dad and Stepmom. They were so close to each other so I figured this little one might want/need a sibling. And Luna was the only cat Seven didn’t hiss at.
The first night I had Luna she slept on my shoulder—she knew we’d be together forever. Luna has a few nicknames in my house: Luna Moon, LMR, the Black Panther (see her frayed collar), and of course, Luna Lovegood, her namesake.
“They have a strong sibling-like relationship and occasionally cuddle together, mostly when I’m asleep and not able to snap a picture.”
Seven
Seven, who tends to do her own thing, will come over and rub her face on my arm or boop my nose when I need it (or when she’s out of food 🤦♀️). As Seven has gotten older, she prefers comfort—I spend a good amount of time fluffing my couch cushions after her daily naps. She is my chonk, who rarely likes to play (aka her vet-prescribed exercise) instead she watches from afar unbothered. She’s known for her small noises and mid-day visits below my desk to say hello and get some pets. Once she has her fill, she returns to the couch, my bed (on top of my pillows), or my yellow Ikea chair, which is very much their chair. Seven likes to sleep on the pillow next to me or near me on a plush blanket. I mean she is the Queen of Comfort. When I got her (and she was smaller and younger), she would sleep on my pillow with me. Glad we've both accepted we need the tiniest bit of space!
Luna is always in the same room I'm in— this includes the bathroom. We are very much codependent. I guess that is what happens when you get a kitten right at 3-months. She loves to lay ON ME. She’s very vocal in times of happiness, or distress or when she’s requesting I turn on the kitchen faucet for her. Luna wakes me up every morning around 6AM, wanting her treats and attention often with a dramatic MEOWWWWWWW. Luna loves all types of food: cat food, tuna, pizza crust, and chicken, you name it.. God forbid, I make a tuna sandwich without giving her some on her own plate. She also loves sunbathing and taking up more than her fair share of space, which is why most days, she works with me at my desk. It’s often a battle of her laying on my keyboard and me trying to move her off. Over and over for 10 hours. She’s either in loaf form or fully spreading out her long body on any and all surfaces. She never got zoom fatigue and loves to join all-hands meetings when I’m working.
Thankfully they (mostly) get along! When I got Luna, I wasn’t really able to do the prolonged socialization because I was in a one-bedroom. Comically, there is a photo of the two of them looking at each other trying to figure out what is going on. They have a strong sibling-like relationship and occasionally cuddle together, mostly when I’m asleep and not able to snap a picture. They both tend to embrace some insanity, often at 3AM (after they've tired of snuggling) kicking off with a wrestling match on me, before running onto my wood floors, leaving my rugs nowhere near where they’re supposed to be.
My Gals have been with me through ups and downs: deaths, celebrations, a nasty break-up, just general bad dating, layoffs, and new better jobs. They seem to always know when I need a little extra comfort. I've had health scares with both of them (thankfully they're both okay now) BUT I can't imagine what I'd do without them. A few summers ago, I got laid off (four days after my Mom's funeral) and I was feeling so lost. I'm so grateful I had them. They were and still are the perfect companions!
Teagan Russell, Luna, and Seven celebrated their 7th Brooklyn anniversary in July! Teagan Russell is an Operations Lead at a fintech, mission-focused startup. When she’s not working or on her couch with her cats, you can probably find her at the newest Broadway show, drinking a gin martini, or in the Delta Lounge.