The purr-fect news

What to keep in mind when travelling with your feline? How do you know if your cat is stressed? A newsletter brings to you all things catty

It is arguably the most memed animal on the Internet, often labelled unfriendly and distant. And yet, a cat is its own master, refusing to submit to anybody’s will, revelling in its individuality, and reminding today’s micromanaging world that not everything can be controlled: you have to let it go. “All individuals have their own manner of expression. As compared to older generations, millennials and Gen Z folks resonate more with cats because they’re able to celebrate that individuality,” shares Vinda Dravid, ‘chief cat slave’ at Curious Cat Company, a one-stop-shop for cat-related needs. Spreading awareness and pawsitivity about kitties is her newsletter Curiously Catty News, which claims to be the only “cat-exclusive newsletter” in India.

A list of dos and don’ts on travelling with cats by Dr Sangeeta Vengsarkar; (right) an edition featuring black cats

Now in its fifth edition, the monthly newsletter was started by Dravid — parent to five cats at home and a dozen in the alleys around her residence in Sion — in August. The inspiration for the newsletter, she says, is rooted in her childhood memories of excitedly pacing through freshly minted copies of Tinkle and Chandamama, which packed fun and information. “I’ve been looking for ways to create a community of cat-lovers. With most of us becoming saturated with the online medium and experiencing screen fatigue, I wanted to create something that stays in front of people’s eyes and reminds them that they’re part of this wonderful community,” explains Dravid about why she decided to offer both online and offline editions of the newspaper. 

Vinda Dravid with her cat Sauron

From dope on travelling with felines to busting myths about black cats, and understanding how the purr-y creatures enable healing, every issue has an overarching theme. Amusing cat stories — our favourite is the one on footloose kitties in space and sea, and on how different cultures consider black cats a blessing — unfold in every edition. The eight-pager packs in first-hand accounts of kitty parents, including a graphic tutorial on how to befriend a cat, and why we could all do with a snuggle from Blue, the therapy kitty. The quirkily illustrated newsletter also offers insights, suggestions and recommendations by vets and an animal behaviourist for the wholesome development of your feline friends. And if you’re purring for more, there’s a round-up of meow-themed indie businesses that create toys, wearables, gifting options and more, alongside engaging catty art prints and pen-and-paper activities. 

While most of the content is written, curated and edited by Dravid, the cutesy illustrations are by Chandrima, technical design by Hemant Andania, and #QuestionsCatParentsAsk section by Dr Michelle Simoes. “The idea was to spread awareness because a lot of people in India randomly adopt cats without understanding the implications. Vets and animal behaviourists are genuinely interested in getting the information out there for people, and have approached me to write regularly. We now have a subscriber base of over 100. So, that’s a community forming by itself,” points out Dravid. Her constant inspiration: the five felines at home who, we’re told, keep an eye on her copies while snuggling in her lap. 

Log on to curiouscatcompany.com to sign up
Cost Rs 299 for three physical issues; Rs 399 for six digital issues; Rs 50 for individual digital archives    

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