We often hear from Tamara at home branch in Ukraine about Mr. Cat; a faithful supporter of the project, and an interesting character to boot! So, we decided it was time to give Tamara’s sidekick an opportunity to share what this project looks like from his perspective.

1. How long have you known Tamara?

Two-and-a-half mrrr-years.

2. What was your life with her like before the full-scale invasion?

I didn’t live with Tamara; I lived with her boyfriend, my real mama Dima. It was a very calm life. I was actually taken from people who were biting me because of my cystitis and Dima took me and cured for a month and I stopped pissing in random places just in a month. Now I am a very tidy man. By-the-way, I am 15 years old so you can call me Grand Mr. Cat.

3. What is your life like now? Tell us a bit about how it has changed; e.g., noise, smells, access to food.

We recently moved to the new home on the West of Ukraine. In Zaporizhzhia I heard the bombings and air raid alerts every day many times and it was scary. Now I have an almost calm life. I’ve started to scream more at night so that my owners keep themselves in tonus in case it will be repeated again.

4. You recently moved. Why? What was that like for you? Do you like your new home?

I don’t know why these guys decided to move. The flat is smaller now so I don’t have so many places to play but they are taking me anywhere they go so it seems that they need me to watch after them. I heard Tamara and Dima were talking that they can’t live being scared of bombs anymore. Also, they said that all parks are bombed in Zaporizhzhia and they even didn’t have a place to go to even rest a bit.

5. When did you notice that postcards were going to invade your home?

First time Tamara was stamping them with the stamp to spoil the back side (so that they won’t be stolen) and the whole floor was covered in postcards and I was just stepping on them to spoil more! I am a supporter! Now Tamara is printing new ones already with the preprinted words “Not for sale” so no more ‘stamping’ fun!

6. What does it look like when Tamara is busy with Postcards to the Front?

She is closing the door now and it’s quite strange! I was checking each envelope and box that is coming before and now she said that some Defenders may have an allergy to cats – really?! – so she is going to keep the cards away from me 😦 .

7. What do you generally do when Tamara is busy with Postcards to the Front? For example, do you sit down and read cards with her? Do you help organize the cards into packages? Do you help her select card designs for new postcards? Or, do you feel neglected?

I was checking every envelope earlier but now she decided that she is an independent woman and she asks Dima to keep me playing aside from her postcard work. However, sometimes I am opening the box she keeps the cards in and lay on them to provide a good vibe and energy to the people who will finally receive them!

8. Are there cards that people write to Defenders that make you smile? Tell us about one or two.

I like bright cards like the one on the left. I also like when writers are making fun of invaders like the one on the right. However, I personally like when people are drawing cats because definitely defenders have cats at their homes that they are missing.

9. Do you think people should send more cards about cats? Pictures about cats or tell stories about cats? Why?

Hmmm. Don’t they do it already? I was thinking people are talking and writing only about cats. Tamara is talking with Dima only about me! I also saw her phone gallery. She is like a stalker filming me every day.

10. What do you think about dogs? What about Patron (the mine-seeking hero)? Could he be your friend?

I do not think about dogs. They should think about me. Actually, I don’t care about them. Once Tamara was visiting her best friends with the dog. I didn’t like it! I said: “meow meow meow” meaning “have at least three showers before touching me”. Regarding Patron…Tamara has stamps with it and I think she should make stamps only with me. So … no friendship with dogs!

11. What’s your favourite food? Favourite treat?

I like Gourmet with rabbit and I don’t like fish and don’t eat anything with fish. I also don’t eat food that was in a plate for more than an hour. Only new fresh food on a fresh plate. I like to eat bread though. Tamara doesn’t allow us to eat bread because it makes us fat boys but sometimes Dima is getting a small piece and sharing with me. 😉

12. What do you most like to do each day?

Sleep. But when Tamara is on a work calls I like to scream so she knows she is not alone.

13. We understand that you have written a book. Tell us about it: what inspired you to write it, who reads it. Can you share a photo of your book?

I didn’t write a book. Tamara was talking to Helen and her grandchildren, and somehow they believed I was writing a book because it was in Tamara’s hands. The book was an interesting one though. And people should know the truth!

14. Does Tamara tell you how she feels about the war? Why do you think Postcards to the Front matters to Tamara? To Defenders?

Tamara is very talkative. So, of course. She says that it’s a genocide of Ukrainians. Have you ever thought that even if war ends now, so many of our young men are disabled, dead or psychically injured? And women are outside of the country and already got used to life there. Not many young healthy people will be in Ukraine after the end of it.
Regarding Tamara and Postcards to the Front. I think it’s because she is a Postcrosser and she respects the power of the word herself. She keeps saying that it’s such big emotional support that no one could give like you guys do. So … please keep sending cards to Tamara! She is sending them by thousands and trying to send to all brigades in Ukraine (and already not only in Ukraine – haha Kursk joke).

15. What would you tell Defenders on a postcard?

Meow meow, which means that if you see a cat somewhere there, feed them because they are just trying to survive and maybe their humans didn’t leave them but died or were injured and can’t look after them. Also, I would say that with so much support that even our flat receives, you can’t lose. The Victory is nearby.

16. Would you encourage other cats to write postcards to Defenders? If so, what messages might they write? Maybe share with us something that cats can write in Ukrainian?

Listen … ! Cats can’t write in Ukrainian. But would I have a chance to write to Defenders, I wouldn’t write about peace. I would write about victory and that Defenders will be together with their loved ones. For example I have a friend in Zaporizhzhia that I would like to meet again after war. She is Tamara’s mom’s cat, Kvasolka, which means ‘bean’.

17. Do you agree with the statement: Don’t Russians know that Ukrainians are like cats? They have nine lives, and they always land on their feet?

Never heard about it. Looks like not a very true story when I look at Tamara. She is so clumsy. Maybe because she is not 100% Ukrainian. Not sure. I think that Defenders are like cats because they also camouflage good like we do and also because they keep catching the rats (meaning russians).

18. Is it possible to weaponize furballs?

Come on! It’s already a psychological weapon!

19. What kind of mewsic do you like to listen to?

When the food can is opening – mrrrr!

20. Tell us a bit about your fashion sense. For example, do you wear boots? Do you keep a feather in your hat?

I have two types of clothes. First, catjama. Tamara wears it, and I sit inside when she is sending orders from her shop. Second, is a little shirt with QR code when we are outside with Dima. Other times, I like to be nude. Because I am fabulous!

21. Do you agree that … with the right catitude, anything is pawsible; therefore, victory will come soon?

Yes. Also, I feel that if people in russia would pet their cats more instead of invading us, they would be happier too. We have a saying here: “Madam, pet your pussycat and keep calm”.

22. What do you see life to be like for you, and for all cats in Ukraine, after victory?

We will get more food from those companies who stopped sending to Ukraine. Also, cats will be more happy as people will come back to Ukraine and start adopting them from shelters. Tamara and Dima are discussing all the time a possibility of the second cat but only from a shelter.

23. Is there anything else that you would like to tell the readers of Postcards to the Front newsletter?

Thank you for reading. Please send your cards more so that I will be able to see Tamara less and play with Dima more while she is packing them!

24. Thank you for agreeing to share a bit about your life at the Postcards to the Front headquarters in Ukraine. Would you please share with us one or two photos that we could include to compliment your article?

I did. A lot! mrrrr …

Need cards? Send us a note. Need ideas about what to write? Check our Tips page, and our Ukrainian phrases page. Want to organize a group to write some postcards? Get ideas here.

Postcards to the Front P. O. Box 184, Millbrook, ON   L0A 1G0 Canada

postcardstothefront.canada@gmail.com

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