Moving to New York from California during quarantine was difficult. Having to adapt to a new place. But, right before I just moved to New York, we got a cat. The cat’s name is Padushka. Padushka is a Sphynx cat and we got a Sphynx cat because some of my family is allergic to normal cats. As I packed up every possession I had, the chaos grew. Boxes piled up, and familiar sights began to disappear. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, Padushka would sit nearby and just stare, offering quiet comfort amidst the stress. Once we arrived at our new home, Padushka eagerly explored every corner and would hide in and over the piles of boxes covering all four walls. He silently motivated me to push through and was almost a reminder of all my old stuff and how everything is still the same; just a new environment. As I settled into my new home, I felt a wave of relief wash over me. Padushka’s adventurous spirit from exploring every single new area of the house gave me the courage to try to adapt to the new change and the move.

– Maayan Savariego

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