Harmini Asokumar decided to name her cat after a food she loves: biryani. “But then I felt really bad because she’s such a beautiful cat, and she reminded me of the moon because of the grey shade of her fur. So I added the name Luna as well,” she told FMT.
Despite her moniker, the five-year-old feline doesn’t actually like biryani, preferring her cat food instead – most of the time.
“One day, I left my yoghurt to sign for a package and, when I came back, she was already halfway through it,” said the 33-year-old owner of Deeper than Fashion, an online business selling beautiful handmade earrings.
And yoghurt isn’t the only “human food” Luna enjoys. She also likes coconut candy, kuih koci, and lotus-flavoured mooncakes.
“That’s why I call her the ‘One Malaysia’ cat, as these are desserts enjoyed by Indian, Malay, and Chinese communities,” Harmini added with a laugh.
Describing her pet as “sassy”, she shared: “There are three bedrooms in my apartment, and she always needs the doors open so she can go in and out as she likes.
“If any of them are closed, she stands in front of them and meows until I open them for her. It’s like she owns the house and I pay the rent!”
According to Harmini, Luna’s sassy personality extends to new people she meets.
“She’s very smart. When she senses that someone is scared of her, she will jump on them,” she said fondly, adding that the cheeky cat does eventually warm up to them.
Luna is also very attached to her human. “I mostly work from home, so we spend a lot of time together. I must always be in her line of sight, and she follows me around as I do my chores.
“At night, she must make sure she touches me as she falls asleep. I love that about her.”
Curiously, the feline reminds Harmini of a dog. “She chases her tail, and she plays fetch!” she chuckled.
Recalling the day Luna came into her life, Harmini said: “Luna’s mum had given birth in my friend’s shoe rack, so I went over to have a look at the litter. I took one look at Luna’s cute face and said: ‘That’s the one I’m taking home’.”
Since then, Luna has changed this first-time “cat mum’s” life in many ways.
“She helped my mental health during the lockdowns,” Harmini recalled. “It was very nice to have her around; things would have been more difficult without her company.
“I think everyone should have pets because they just bring so much joy,” she concluded.
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 lifestyle@freemalaysiatoday.