Cat Parent Interview: Negeen & A Cat Named ‘Doll’

Photos by Junipurr Studio

Ok, cat mom Negeen’s furbaby is not literally named Doll, but her name, Aroosak, does mean ‘Doll’ in Farsi. And you better believe it — she 100% lives up to her name :) Here’s their story:  

Hi Negeen! Please tell us a bit about yourself.

I’m Iranian-American and originally from Montana, but moved to Dubai in high school. I received my BA in anthropology from UC Berkeley, then started medical school in Cyprus. I transferred back to the States where I am completing my medical studies as an aspiring psychiatrist.

How did Aroosak come into your life?

We are cat people, my whole family, and we have been fostering kittens for a while. Then in May 2020, I got an email from the rescue about a 7-week-old kitten who needed foster care. When we got to the rescue, though, the shelter staff asked if we could take a 4-week-old who needed bottle feeding instead, since we were one of the few volunteers who had prior experience with bottle babies. We said yes, and the rest is HISStory 😸

What thoughts popped into your head during those first moments with Aroosak, and what has surprised you about being her mom?

The moment I brought her home and opened her carrier, she let out the biggest hiss. I was too scared to try to pick her up, so I called my mom (the professional cat-handler) to bring her out, and she calmed down instantly and suddenly she was part of the family. I was smitten with Aroosak! She fell asleep in my arms, and I was sold. I initially brought her home as a foster, and it was a very impulsive decision! My family and I had fostered before, always with the intention of finding them a permanent home elsewhere, so we actually did not have plans to adopt her at all, so the fact that we ended up keeping her and she became a foster-fail still surprises me! It feels like it was meant to be – the stars aligned for her to come into our family. In the months after she came home, our family went through much heartache and loss. Throughout it all, Aroosak was a source of comfort and joy.

How did you come up with Aroosak’s name? What are her nicknames?

Aroosak looked so much like a babydoll or stuffed animal toy, so the Farsi word for doll (Aroosak) came naturally to mind for her name. We also call her Pishi, which means cat in Farsi, and is the universal cat-human word for calling. Another favorite is Chicken Nugget, because she is a little nugget who sometimes likes to curl up in a chicken-y sort of manner. We have a bunch of nicknames for her!

Describe your cat in three words.

Funny, feisty, and friendly – three Fs!

What are your cat’s favorite forms of play?

She has to go outside once a day to play in the grass and do cardio with the neighborhood lizards! She also loves playing fetch with mini nerf balls. In fact, she loves playing fetch with them and will grab them in her mouth and bring it back to us. Despite her excellent fetch skills, though, her first pack of 30 have disappeared, and even her second pack of 60 is halfway gone.

What are your cat’s favorite treats?

Aroosak loves the lickable treats that come in a tube like gogurt! She’s obsessed with them. She also loves Planters honey roasted peanuts (which we cleared with her vet and only give very sparingly) – not any other brand or flavor, just this. Very specific. 😸

What is your cat’s energy throughout the day?

Aroosak is a high energy connoisseur of the good life. She usually gets up when we do, demands her breakfast, then around mid-morning loves to go out for a stroll around her queendom (with her harness and leash).  In the afternoon, she enjoys a good and long leisurely beauty nap, then is up for games and midnight zoomies. Oh the midnight zoomies!

What are some special moments that make you feel extra connected with Aroosak?

She is not as affectionate as some other cats I’ve known, but when she does choose to jump on my bed and lay with me or nuzzle her head against my legs, it feels that much more sweet. 🥰 My family and I were going through an extremely difficult time in our lives when we brought Aroosak home, and she has been a big part of our healing process and a huge emotional support.

What is your cat parent superpower?

My superpower is spoiling my kitty😹 I also like to think I’m great at giving names to cats!

What do you wish people knew about having cats as a part of the family?

Cats have a reputation for not being emotional or affectionate pets, especially when compared to dogs, but they definitely are! They may show their love differently, and it requires emotional intelligence on the humans’ part to really understand them, but I believe bringing a cat into the family would instantly break that stereotype. Also, they are such sharp, clever, and hilarious creatures!

How has being a cat parent changed you as a person?

I used to wonder how people could treat their pets like their own children, and now I completely empathize with them. I have a deep understanding of the strong bond between cats and their humans.

Your favorite cat-related invention? For example, one that cracks me up is a dating app for cat people :D

We bought her a stroller for her birthday a couple weeks ago, and I still laugh at what an absurd yet amazing product it is! Also, I definitely downloaded that cat people dating app at one point!😹

If you and your fur baby could have a conversation in the same language, what would you say to each other?

The first thing I’d ask her: “Can you see ghosts or other-worldly entities?” 👻 I would also ask her to not bite so hard when she plays with me. 😹 I’d ask why she sleeps in the other room and avoids us while our family is watching TV, and she would probably explain how she needs her space to recharge from human interaction. 😸

Thank you so much, Negeen and Aroosak!

p.s. You may also enjoy Viviana and Whiskers