When I moved to Mumbai a little less than a year ago, the first thing on my mind was to call my parents over. Apart from the plethora of excuses my father had, this one felt a tad bit more strange. “Who will take care of the cats? They’ll be lonely,” he’d say every time, knowing fully well that our cats in Lucknow have an indoor-outdoors existence, and can hunt or con neighbours for food with cuteness. 

So in December, after several emotional pleas, my parents finally decided to visit Mumbai. The house help was requested to stay the night in our Lucknow home to feed cats, change their litter and make sure they weren’t as emotionally bereft as my father imagined. My parents aren’t the only ones; cat parents are known to kill or postpone their travel plans to assure their care. Cat sitters and boarders, these purrfect lovers of the feline are happy to look after your cat child, often for just the food in your fridge and Wi-Fi access.