When Irena De Filippou was studying in Melbourne, she decided to get a pet as she was feeling lonely and missed her family.
A cat lover, she decided to head to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (RSPCA) in Melbourne with her husband, Dinie Zaki, to find her new best mate.
There, Dinie noticed a playful black cat and had an instant connection with her. They decided to give her a furever home and named her Smokey.
It took Smokey some time to warm up to Irena, ignoring her at first. But over time, with Irena’s constant care and attention, Smokey became more affectionate with her.
“She was a little demon with her claws when she was younger, but thankfully she’s grown out of it,” Irena told FMT with a laugh.
“Now she’s a real sweetheart who knows how to make me feel better when I’m down.”
About a year later, while casually browsing a Facebook group of animals for adoption, a tabby cat caught Irena’s attention. The feline’s eyes and beautiful fur made Irena stare intently at the photo.
In that instant, Irena knew Yuki was meant for her, too.
When Yuki was brought home, Irena realised the newcomer was a bit more challenging to deal with compared with Smokey. Yuki, as it turned out, craved more attention, which Irena and Dinie were more than happy to provide.
One might think having two cats at home would be chaotic, but the pair neither fought nor showed much interest in each other initially. They simply accepted that there was a new “family member” in the house, Irena said.
Over time, the felines grew fond of each other and now see each other as sisters. They thankfully do not fight and are, in fact, often spotted in each other’s company.
When Irena had to head back to Malaysia in 2021 upon completing her studies, she faced a dilemma: should she give her beloved cats up for adoption, or bring them home with her?
It wasn’t an altogether difficult decision: “I love them both so much as they’re part of my family. I didn’t have the heart to leave them.”
So the furry duo were flown out of Melbourne and had to undergo a 10-day quarantine before being back in their humans’ arms in Malaysia.
Yuki and Smokey, both 10, have their own personalities and are entertaining in their own way. Together, though, they are a force to be reckoned with, Irena shared with a laugh.
For example, they both love to scratch at their humans’ bedroom door to be let in at all hours of the morning.
“They used to snuggle together with Dinie and me in bed,” she recalled. “But now that they’re older and we have a baby, they’re no longer allowed to do so.”
This, however, doesn’t stop them from scratch-scratch-scratching away at the door at 3 or 4am! Ah, cats.
Still, Irena’s feelings towards her fur babies are unwavering. “I love them very much,” she emphasised. “They’ve helped me during my weakest and [happiest] moments, and that’s the wonder of having pets.”
This article was written by Anne Grace Savitha.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathery friends to [email protected]. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.