Kim, Paris & mom Timma Srivastava

It’s that time of the morning when Kim and Paris are sitting on the canopy. Mom Timma Srivastava wants them to come down, right now. So it’s time to bribe them. She looks at them and asks, “Fishy khaani?” and she walks to the kitchen. In a jiffy, the two are at mom’s feet mewing for their treats! When the girls want their fishy treat, and Srivastava goes to the kitchen, the two girls lay out the maska nice and thick. Kim lays on her back and shows her belly for a nice rub while Paris uses her big eyes to almost hypnotise Srivastava into dishing out their favourite nibbles.

An artist, angel card reader, reiki healer and animal lover, Srivastava is very fond of her babies. “They nuzzle me awake, follow me around the house and when I come home, they are at the door to greet me! Their aura and vibrations are so good for the house. They have brought in a lot of happiness,” says Srivastava. Adopted by her son Abhijit in Mumbai, Srivastava went to visit him and fell in love with the babies. “I saw he had cared for them like they were his babies for a month. I saw the unconditional love they shared. But his work hours stretch forever so I decided to bring them to Pune. Paris and Kim accepted me and are my sweethearts,” she smiles about her 9 month old felines.

In Pune, they have a run of the house. Mornings begin at 5 am when Srivastava wakes up. They sit with her quietly while she meditates. Through the day, they are busy playing, napping and staring all around. Te biggest joy is the positivity they have brought into the home with them. Apart from that, Srivastava says her cats have taught her to be more sensitive to animals on the street. “It’s like they opened the doors for me to feel for other animals on the street. I was not so sensitive to homeless animals till they joined my family,” she says. That’s a lesson worth learning alright. While Paris and Kim continue listening to the conversation we gaze around the living room and marvel at the curios placed delicately all over. “Not once have the two broken anything. They are truly marvellous cats. Now that the children are busy with their lives, Kim and Paris make me feel like a mother again,” she says. When daughter Amrapali is heading to for work, they escort her to the door. When guests come, they are happy to meet and greet them!

“I use reiki on them to make them calm, help them feel secure so that they don’t have any fear. I pray to my angels to look after the two. My cats bring in a lot of positive energy with them, so when I have to do a reading, I always have the around,” she adds.

The cats’ favourite place in the house is atop the fish tank, right next to a huge painting that Srivastavas made. Initially they were very curious about the fish but now they know they can’t do anything about it so they enjoy the warmth on top of the tank. And when the adventurous bug bites, Paris climbs from their terrace to the apartment on top of their home. Luckily the home welcomes her. If only all humans were so loving…