Growing up, Farina Khalid always wanted a cat of her own. But not just any cat – she always dreamed of having an orange one.
“I’ve always thought orange cats were very cute, affectionate, and also had very interesting personalities,” she says.
Finally, Farina decided to fulfil her childhood dream. “Now that I live on my own, I thought it would be the perfect time.”
One day, as she was scrolling through a pet adoption page, Farina came across a post about a three-month-old orange tabby named Niko.
One look at him and she instantly knew she had to adopt him. “I immediately contacted the owner and we arranged for Niko to be transported to my place,” she tells FMT.
Farina was initially worried Niko would struggle to adapt to his new home, especially since she had another kitten at home. But to her surprise, Niko adjusted very quickly and began exploring his new home – even claiming her bed as his own on his first day!
“He gets along with his sister really well and loves her very much,” Farina says, adding that Niko spends his days licking his kitty companion to the point that she sometimes gets annoyed.
Niko is growing into a very friendly feline who absolutely loves meeting new people. He can, however, be quite demanding and expects you to give him your undivided attention when playing with him.
“He hates when people use their phones while they are petting him or giving him rubs, and he will try to grab the phone,” Farina laughs. Can anyone blame him? Being on your phone when someone wants your attention is just plain rude!
This makes multitasking difficult as Niko has bitten her phone and even whacked it out of her hand many times.
Despite being demanding, Niko never fails to shower his human with love. “Whenever I am on the couch watching TV or lying in bed, he always comes and cuddles up next to me,” Farina says.
And when Niko is not busy cosying up to Farina, he enjoys lying on his back, sprawled out on the floor with his belly exposed for tummy rubs.
Niko’s favourite spot is at the front door as if he were guarding the house. But the moment a visitor arrives, he can be seen running for safety.
“He is scared of the doorbell and will run and hide under the sofa when he hears it,” Farina shares.
This little kitten also enjoys climbing onto high places like cupboards or clothing racks. Since Farina is currently working from home, Niko enjoys jumping up on her workstation and taking a snooze while she works.
“He walked all over my keyboard once and ended up sending gibberish to my work group,” Farina says fondly. Classic cat!
“I live in an apartment and always keep the balcony door shut, but once Niko escaped and jumped up on the balcony railing,” Farina recalls, adding that she almost fainted at the sight of him in that precarious position.
Niko is a calm and affectionate kitten and loves when Farina cradles him around the house like a baby. But like many cats, Niko hates water, which makes giving him a shower extremely difficult.
“He has a shower at least once a week and he absolutely hates it. That’s when his fierce side comes out.”
The six-month-old has a huge appetite and would eat everything given the opportunity.
“His favourite food to eat is wet tuna and will lick his bowl spotless when given it,” Farina says, adding that Niko, curiously, also loves rambutans.
“He always knows when I am about to eat a rambutan because the second I open one, I will find him next to me begging for me to give him some!”
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.