Biographies of Cutie and Yuki
by Dean Hui-Ching Chang
Cutie
Full name: Bengal Boy "Catness" Everdeen Hsiao Baby Cyrano Cutiful Chang
Cutie was adopted in July, 2013. I had just finished my summer class, and decided to visit the Anti-Cruelty Society. I took a bus to get there, and was pleased with the easy process of playing with all the available cats. I went to the room where they kept kittens, and played with about four of them. I still remember there was an orange cat; a pair of black-and-white siblings (one had already been adopted); and another one (I forgot his/her color).
There were all incredibly cute little babies, but none of them connected with me. Then there was little Cutie, just a little over 4 months old, on top of the cage right next to the entrance door looking through the rails with his big eyes. I asked the attendant to take him out.
He was totally concentrated on a cat-shaped decorative item placed on my purse that my niece had given me. Cutie was obviously smart and alert; in addition to his focused attention, he also “mewed” constantly to communicate with me. I put him back in the cage; not sure if I know how to raise a cat in the U.S., I told the attendant that I’d discuss with my husband and would be back.
I was about to walk out; when I was at the door, Cutie put his face next to the rail and mewed loudly, as if asking me not to leave without him. I looked at the cage and saw his big penetrating eyes, and decided right there to take him home. The attendant was surprised; she asked, “are you sure?” and I said, “yes.” I completed the paperwork, and was asked to give him a name. Growing up in Taiwan with a family cat for over 16 years, and who acted so much like an empress, I decided to call Cutie “King.” On second thought, he was so little, so I decided to call him “Prince”—that’s why his badge is engraved with “Prince.”
They put him in a paper box, and I hopped in the bus. Many passengers saw the box and heard his mewing; they passed by and said “hi” to Cutie ☺. I took him back to JST, and met a group of students on the first floor. They are all excited about this new resident! I then took him to our apartment to surprise my husband. From this point forward, Cutie has become an indispensable member of our household. Why did we change his name to Cutie? Simply, he is just too cute ☺
Yuki
Full name: Yuki Shimada Snow Prince Nosferatu Ojos Azules Holt
Yuki was adopted in the cold winter of March 2014. It was a snowy day that we drove 90 minutes to Wisconsin to pick our snowy white Yuki.
After having Cutie for more than eight months, I had been thinking about adopting another cat. Since Cutie is a tabby, I thought I’d adopt a lighter-color cat. I viewed various websites from time to time just to see what is available and then I found the purebredcatrescue.org site. An entirely different system from the institutionalized Anti-Cruelty Society, this organization rescues purebred cats through a network of host families. I saw various videos on YouTube, and noted Yuki, a white Siamese cat—he was called “Buzz” at that time—who liked to get involved with the other cats. I thought he and Cutie would be great companions, so I filled out the application form and set up an appointment with his host family to pick him up.
At that time my friend from Taiwan was visiting me, so we went together to Kenosha, Wisconsin on a dreadfully cold snowy day. I was surprised to see the twenty some cats in that house. Yuki was kept in a room in the basement area with another gentle cat. As soon as we picked him up, Yuki gave my husband three quick kisses with his nose and was instantly connected with him. I held Yuki tight in my arms when we drove home, as he was so scared to be taken from his home on a unknown trip.
Before we picked Yuki up I had read many posts about how it is necessary to “properly” introduce your cat with a newcomer. On arriving home, I was so eager to bring Yuki in that I had totally forgotten about having to work with Cutie first. But as soon as Yuki entered the apartment, Cutie came out and licked Yuki. Yes, just like that, they were instant friends and have since become really good siblings ☺
