'We had a Zoom party for our cat's birthday attended by cats, dogs and friends'

MANILA, Philippines — I grew up hating cats because there was an infestation in our old house in Parañaque,” says Quark Henares, head of Globe Studios, director, producer, actor and band member. “I was never a cat person, unlike my wife, singer-songwriter Bianca Yuzon, who grew up with both cats and dogs and had a habit of taking home strays and finding new homes for them. She ended up keeping them most of the time. I never thought I would end up being a cat parent, but here we are!”

But, as the over-two-month lockdown caught all of us unaware, so it was with Quark and Bianca, who found themselves in their condo with their two cat companions: Sunny Jim, the older of the two, very attentive and reactive; and Rorschach (Rory), a natural lap cat and very malambing.

“I’ve always loved cats and my dream was to have a fat gray cat,” adds Bianca. “Silver-gray is my favorite color; it has a calming effect on me and feels very classic but modern, and a fat cat because chunky cats are extra-cuddly and cute in my book.”

She says that her desire to have a silver-gray cat started when she was living in London making music. The holiday season before she came home, Sainsbury’s was running an ad campaign on Mog the Cat and his Christmas adventures.

“I bought a Mog stuffed toy at the supermarket and it became my constant companion,” she says.

Fast forward to a year later when she was dating Quark, and little did she know he had planned to make her cat dream come true. On her 26th birthday, Quark conspired with her friends Camille and Raymond to find the perfect little gray bundle of joy.

“I woke up the next morning and was surprised to hear mewling sounds,” she shares. “Enter Q, carrying a little gray British shorthair kitten. He recorded the whole thing and I could not hold back tears of happiness.”

They named him Sunny Jim, a character in Twin Peaks, Quark’s favorite show of all time, and he’s been their sweet, sensitive son ever since.

Bianca is most proud of Quark, who has grown to become such a great cat dad, from knowing nothing about cat care in the beginning to being such a natural.

If there is one thing that all of us have learned from being holed up with humans and animals, it’s what we can and purr-haps cannot live without — when we are pushed inside our condos or houses and have to make a new life with the people and animals who are with us.

“Our cats have been great company during the lockdown period,” adds Quark.  “Yes, sometimes they drive us crazy, but more often than not I think we drive them crazy.”

As a cat owner I know that cats have their own groove and usually don’t like to show affection towards their owners. 

Sunny Jim, the older of the two, has been very attentive and reactive. At this point the couple consider him their roommate.

“When one of us is down or sick, he feels this immediately and is by our side the whole time,” shares Quark. “But he also never fails to remind us when it’s wet food Wednesday or keeps us in check when his litter box needs cleaning.”

The couple says that Rory is a natural lap cat and is very affectionate. “She likes to snuggle up as we watch our nightly shows or during Saturday movie nights. She usually gets enthralled by the moving images on that mysterious screen and sits smack in front of the television, so we often have to go up and pick her up. She’s only five months old, so there’s a lot to learn for this little kitty. It’s a good thing Sunny Jim is around to show her the ropes.  They have such different personalities, but it’s great because they complement each other and are a source of entertainment for hours on end.”

‘‘Do your cats like you?’’ I ask.

“We know they love us because we always catch them smelling our shoes.”

Quark says being locked down with their cats “has made the experience 1,000 times nicer.’’

‘‘Sunny Jim turned three last April 24 and we threw him a Zoom party attended by all his cat, dog and human friends,’’ adds Bianca. ‘‘The turnout was great, and we think everyone just looks for connection in times like this.”

Because Rory was brand-new at the beginning of the lockdown, the couple tried walking her. It was frustrating, though, because after a few steps she’d just plop down and wait to be carried. They have also been able to show Rory that bath time can be fun, though the hairdryer is her number-one enemy, after the vacuum cleaner. “With Sunny Jim we’re not even going to try,” they laugh.

I ask if they’d prefer dogs or cats in a lockdown.

“It’s hard to compare them to dogs because they’re so different, but cats are definitely more apartment-friendly since they’re more independent and don’t need to be walked,” shares Quark.

Cats do have a reputation for being cold, but they just need their space and aren’t as in-your-face about giving and seeking attention, so when they do approach you for a leg rub or to join you on the couch, it’s always a doubly pleasant surprise.

“We also find cats to be incredibly funny,” they share. “Sunny Jim likes to show off when we have guests by jumping over the laptop or across the screen when we watch movies together, making sure he has everyone’s attention.  You also don’t need to buy them expensive toys — a ribbon, piece of string or a box is all they need to be preoccupied for hours on end.”