In Man of the House: Life with the Lady at the End of My Leash, yellow Labrador Mac, calls Mary and all humans “leashers.” Today I’ve switched it up and am talking to a cat owner… love is love. Crystal DiMiceli is the host of the Forces for Nature podcast where she interviews people who are doing great things for animals and the environment. Crystal is creating an impactful career that inspires and empowers people to make more eco- and animal-friendly choices. Her message is powerful, “There is magic is nature, and that magic deserves to be protected.”
1. Before we talk about your cats, I’m curious, “Have you ever put a leash on your cat?”
I actually tried. We’re moving to Rome, and the cats have to be under 15 pounds to bring them on the plane. They’ve been on a diet for a few months. We tried to put them on a leash in order to give them more exercise because they’re indoor cats. There’s a picture on my Instagram of our white cat Tres with the harness on, sprawled out on the floor refusing to move, as if submitting himself to die rather than walking on a leash. My other cat, both actually, walk backwards trying to get out of it or they rub against the wall trying to get it off. I’m going to continue to work on it. I’ve trained animals before, so I should be able to figure it out.
2. Tell me about your cats.
I have two street cats. Both were rescues from the streets in Panama. We named the first one Calle which is “street” in Spanish, and then we got Tres, which is the number “three” in Spanish (though we pronounce it like “Tray” for a sweet reason). How I got Tres is a funny story. I was walking to the subway one day, and there was this woman who was clearly on drugs sitting on the sidewalk. I noticed she had a kitten. I walked past her and was waiting on the corner. I looked back and saw that she was actually hurting him. She had him by the throat and was yanking on his ears. I couldn’t in good conscious keep going. I walked back to her, and she was high as a kite. I figured she wouldn’t just hand the cat over to me. I took out the $3.00 I had in my wallet and said, “Can I buy that cat from you?” She looked at me like I was a crazy person. She took the money and gave me the cat.
Now I had this kitten in my hands and hopped in a cab to go back home. We lived in an apartment building, and my neighbor Bob’s door was open. He was an elderly man who loved Calle, so I walked on in. “Bob, I got a new kitten. Javier’s going to kill me.” This would make the third cat I’d gotten while my husband Javier was traveling. As Bob was playing with the kitten he said, “You should call him ‘Tres’ (he pronounced it like “tray” because of his strong American accent when he spoke Spanish) because you paid ‘tres’ dollars for him.” I laughed and the name stuck.
3. What color is Tres and Calle?
Tres is really white with blue eyes. When you see a cat that’s completely white with blue eyes, unless they’re a fancy breed, chances are that they are deaf. The same gene that causes deafness also causes their hair to be white. So, Tres is deaf. Calle is gray and black and white.
4. How do they interact?
They’re like brothers. I think they have affection for one another, but they also are at each other’s throats. Calle wants to be better friends with Tres. He tries to groom him, but Tres wants nothing to do with that. Tres is a brat.
5. Did you have cats growing up?
I did. I’ve always loved animals. My parents didn’t want dogs. I had a guinea pig for a while and a hamster. There was a stray cat that our neighbors were feeding outside. We went to visit one day, and she was the biggest love. I asked if I could take her home, and my parents actually said “yes.” She was my first cat.
6. You rescued the cats in Panama, then moved to Colombia, then Costa Rica, and now having a stopover in Florida before moving to Rome. Your cats are well traveled. What are the restrictions for bringing pets into Italy? Do they have to be in quarantine?
No, thank goodness. We were planning to go straight from Costa Rica to Rome, but there was a screw up with the paperwork and the governing body in Italy responsible for animals coming into the country wouldn’t let us export them from Costa Rica, so we’re now at my parents’ house in Florida. While it was frustrating to have to change travel plans, it’s been a blessing in disguise. So far, the preparatory process has been quite seamless for traveling from the US to Rome with them.
7. Where do your cats sleep?
They sleep with us. When we were in Colombia, Tres started bullying Calle out of the bed. But, now for whatever reason, Tres has allowed Calle back in the bed.
8. Do they like to play games?
Tres really loves playing with this pipe cleaner I randomly had. I’ve had all of those balls and toy mice that you buy in a pet store. They look at those for a minute, but Tres will play with the pipe cleaner by himself for a long time. Calle’s not as playful, but he does like rubber bands and hair ties.
9. Has there been a time when your cats helped you through a rough situation or were there for you emotionally?
All the time. Before this year with the pandemic, my husband traveled a lot. He was gone at least one week a month. When I first moved to Panama, he said, “Let’s not get any pets. They will hinder our travel together.” And then I end up getting these cats while he was gone, not intentionally. It just happened, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. They kept me company when he was traveling, and he’s a total mush for them now.
10. If your cats could talk to you, what would they say?
“OMG I’m starving! I’m withering away! It’s been three whole hours since you fed me last! Feed me more treats,” especially now that they’re on a diet. Tres would also probably say “Play with me more.” He’s a very playful cat. When we first arrived in Florida, my two nieces were here, and my six-year-old niece played with him for hours nonstop. He was having a blast and every morning he would go find her.
11. Is there anything else you’d like to tell me about your cats?
Tres is kind of funny in that he loves being around people and being close to you, but he has a limit on how many times you can pet him. After about three times, he swats at you. On the other hand, Calle is super timid, not social. But when it’s quiet and just us, or with people he knows and trusts, he’s super loving.
Crystal, Javier, Calle and Tres are now living in Rome and adjusting nicely to their new home. Both cats “made weight” for the flight.
