International Cat Day, celebrated every year on August 8, was created by The International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002 to help boost adoption globally, share tips and tricks for caring for cats, and overall to celebrate our adorable little friends.
As cat owners and enthusiasts around the world celebrate International Cat Day, The Jerusalem Post would like to spotlight the fabulous felines that are an integral part of our family.
Aaron Reich: Medici and Judy
Aaron Reich and his partner are the loving parents of Medici - full name HaRav Medici di Cuddlebutt Reich - and Judy, short for Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi.
“Working from home with them is always fun. Medici is very cuddly and can spend hours curled up on someone’s lap, or climbing on them to snuggle their face. Or he can just sit on the desk or couch, sometimes cuddling up to my computer,” Reich said.
“Judy, however, is more content to hide behind my computer, flop in the sunlight on the floor, or climb up and down my chair and sit behind my head.”
Sam Halpern: Syl
Syl, who was originally named Fievel before the vet learned that he was a she, is just a few months old, with a personality ten times the size of her tiny body.
The little tabby can often be found chewing on cables, attempting to steal her dad’s popcorn, and generally being a menace to society.
“This a****** likes to headbutt me,” Halpern said fondly, joking that he would “make Gaza look like suburban Massachusetts compared to what I would do to the person who hurt her.”
Audrey Leinoff: Cookie and Coco
Though the two may look similar, Audrey Leinoff told the Post she believed she may have opened her home to an Iranian and Mossad spy, given how the two are constantly butting heads.
Cookie, Leinoff explained, appears to have “Persian blood flowing through her veins, and is remarkably calm when faced with threats of missile fire.”
Coco, by contrast, adores basking in the sun at 40 degrees heat.
The result, Leinhoff said, is “a household full of peace, joy, and menace that keeps all dwellers on their claws - or toes.”
Maya Zanger-Shamir: Penelope and Tasha
Maya Zanger-Shamir has often described Penelope as the cat she wanted, while Tasha was the cat she needed.
“After I made aliyah, I felt a distinct, pet-shaped gap in my life,” she said.
“ I was immediately drawn to Penelope when I found her on Facebook because she has a missing paw and I grew up with a wonderful three-legged dog. Tasha ended up tagging along, and she's become my little shadow.”
The cats stayed by Zanger-Shamir’s side through several careers and multiple partners, and have found their loving father in Omer, Maya’s husband.
“The emotional support I get from them has been critical to the success of my aliyah. I love them both so much, and they show - and tell - me every day how much they love me too.”
Chava Greymen-Kennard: Charlie
Charlie was one of the Post’s beloved cats, until she unfortunately passed away earlier this year, after being loved and doted on for several years by Chava Greymen-Kennard.
“There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think about Charlie. She was with me through the darkest times. She curled up beside me in shelters, stayed by my side when I was sick, and gave me comfort when I needed it most,” Greymen-Kennard shared.
“When life became difficult, I stayed in Israel because she couldn’t travel. She is the reason I’m an Israeli, and I owe more to her than I could ever put into words. Anyone who believes cats are cold or unloving could never have known my Charlie. She was the warmest, most intelligent and compassionate creature I’ve ever known.”
In addition to being Charlie’s loving mom, Greymen-Kennard also works closely with the Rosh Ha'Ayin Animal Lobby, where several Post members - including this author - got their beloved furry friends.
Rosh Ha'Ayin Animal Lobby is an association of local residents who volunteer in a range of activities on behalf of the city's animals, with an emphasis on wildlife and the community.
While the shelter does rely on the municipal veterinary service, medical treatment and financial support from the authority are almost nonexistent, and the volunteers invest both in fundraising and in staffing operational shifts to look after the cats there.
Shir Perets: Bear
Of course, the best must be saved for last.
This author’s very own cat, Bear, is a long-haired-something-probably-Maine Coon who will be turning two in just a few weeks.
The light of my life, my Bear was adopted just a few weeks after signing on my first apartment, and has been my loyal companion through reserve duty, several Iran wars, overnight shifts, and more.
For the past year and a half, Bear has greeted me when I get home with a purr and a cuddle, putting anyone who thinks cats can’t show affection to shame.
Bear is exceptionally bright. He comforts me when I’m sad, bringing me toys in an attempt to brighten my day, and has learned a few basic commands, such as ‘sit,’ ‘leave it,’ or ‘scratch my back.’
For all of us here at the Post, our cats make our lives that much better, providing love and meaning in a way nobody else can.