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The Grand Entrances

In August 2023, I brought home two charming companions: Serafima (Sima), a tortoiseshell with a mischievous streak, and Anfisa (Fisa), a regal calico with a side of sass. I envisioned a peaceful home where they’d cuddle up together while I penned my urban fantasy novels. What I got instead? A full-on battle royale.

Their first meeting was less of a “hello” and more of a feline version of my Family Ties. Snarling, clawing, and fur flying everywhere. The idea of peaceful coexistence? A distant fantasy. Instead, I found myself as the referee in a never-ending match between two queens fighting for their turf.

Dividing the Kingdom

For months, my house became a battleground. Sima claimed the master suite, while Fisa ruled over the rest of the home. At one point, we seriously considered splitting the house in half permanently. 

But as time passed, something magical happened. Little by little, with a lot of patience and a few carefully orchestrated “peace talks,” the tension between these two feline monarchs began to ease. They stopped acting like mortal enemies and started, slowly, to tolerate each other. First, it was sniffing without a growl. Then, they could pass each other without a swipe. And one miraculous day, they actually sat in the same room without a single hiss. It wasn’t the cozy, snuggly friendship I had dreamed of, but it was progress—small, magical progress.

The Queens Find Their Thrones

Sima, my little tortoiseshell thief, has fully embraced her role as the household’s collector of treasures. Missing pens? Stray socks? Mysterious shiny objects? All of them eventually end up in her “treasure trove” inside her cat tower. Every now and then, I’ll stumble across her stash and laugh—Sima reminds me of a dragon hoarding relics in some forgotten cave, content in the knowledge that “everything here belongs to me.” And, of course, her love for gourmet wet food is legendary. There’s nothing like seeing her excitement when the meal is served—she’s a queen at her royal feast.

Fisa, on the other hand, is always yearning for adventure. The first time we took her outside (on a lead, naturally), she was frozen in awe, mesmerized by the world around her. Now, she’s the self-declared queen of the backyard. Her insistence on outdoor time is relentless—she’ll sit by the door, meowing until we let her out. And once outside? She transforms into a mighty hunter, eyes sharp, tail twitching as she surveys her kingdom. Her curiosity reminds me of the adventurers in my stories—always eager for the next big discovery, never content to stay in one place for too long.

Cat Chaos, Writer’s Gold

Now, as I sit at my desk, with Sima perched high on her cat tower and Fisa lounging on her favorite window shelf, I can’t help but marvel at how far we’ve come. Their journey from fierce rivals to uneasy roommates reminds me of the journeys I write about in my books: sometimes rocky, sometimes filled with unexpected battles, but always with the hope of peace and understanding at the end.

So, next time you find a feline-inspired character in one of my stories, know that Sima and Fisa are the muses behind the magic. They’ve taught me that love—even when it’s hard-earned—is the most powerful magic of all. 


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