April 11, 2024
By Rina Tishuk
Staff Writer
Throughout my childhood, I always wanted a pet. Every birthday I wished for a cat, but my dad didn’t think I was prepared for the responsibilities that came with it.
It wasn’t until 2020, when I moved from the Bronx, New York to Lyndhurst, that my dad considered getting me a cat.
Having spent my entire life in the Bronx, moving was a big change and starting over during Covid-19 wasn’t easy. Each day felt like a repetitive loop with online learning, and my dad thought a pet might raise my spirits.
He was correct. My life changed for the better when I met Boop. My dad came across Boop when he was a stray kitten living with his siblings and mother outside the building where my dad works in the Bronx. Initially, he told me there was a possibility he might bring a cat home to me, but he urged me not to get my hopes up yet.
About a month later, on June 26, 2021, I woke up to a phone call from my dad at 6 a.m., who urged me to go out to our garage. Confused yet curious, I headed there and was surprised to find the cutest gray kitten. He was just two months old, weak from malnutrition and unable to open his left eye, but I felt hopeful because I knew my dad and I could help him. Overwhelmed with excitement, I didn’t know how to contain myself.
We took Boop to the vet, and she told us he would make a full recovery. She said his eye was just filled with crust and provided us with eye drops to resolve the medical issue.
Being a former stray, Boop was shy and took weeks to warm up to my family. Over time, our bond grew stronger as he became most comfortable with me. If I’m ever feeling down, I know he is right by my side.
Boop is well-known in my neighborhood because I regularly take him on walks with a leash. My neighbors and friends find this unnatural, but what’s even more amusing is that Boop loves it and sometimes cries until I take him outside.
In spring 2022, my family and I began to notice a change in Boop. Sleeping throughout the day, he seemed bored and unenergetic, so my family discussed the possibility of getting Boop a new friend.
On Oct. 6, 2023, I woke up from a nap and saw an orange kitten in my living room. It turns out, my sister’s friend had a cat that had given birth to a litter of kittens about a month earlier. He generously offered us one, and my parents agreed to welcome the new kitten, Simba, to our home.
When Boop met Simba, he immediately disliked him. He would spray all over the house to mark his territory. This caused significant issues for my family because we had to throw out several items.
Unlike Boop, Simba is very energetic. The tiniest bit of movement sends him into attack mode. He meows a lot and has an endless desire to play. At first, Boop couldn’t keep up with Simba, but now he can’t live without him.
My life changed for the better when I met Boop.
When Simba is asleep for too long, Boop smacks him until he wakes up, but if that doesn’t work, he joins him and they cuddle. When their playful fights get a little too serious, I put them in separate rooms to calm down, and then they exchange meows through the door because they miss each other.
I love Boop and Simba because, in an instant, they can brighten my day. When I come home from school, their excited sprints never fail to make me laugh.
Boop and Simba bring so much joy to my life, and they have a positive impact on my mom’s health. She struggles with hypertension due to stress, but Boop and Simba have helped bring down her pressure levels. The vibrations caused by a cat’s purr have been shown to contribute to a sense of relaxation, reducing stress and anxiety, so I am not surprised they have had this effect on my mom.
Imagining life without Boop and Simba is impossible, as they will forever be my best friends. That is why I celebrate National Pet and recognize Boop and Simba’s positive influence on my life.
