Tamil-Kannada
actress Samyukta Hornad
is an animal lover and is also an ambassador for several animal welfare organisations in Bengaluru. She has fostered, adopted, and has been a parent of several animals ever since she was a kid. “I am more of an animal person,” she laughs, adding, “I think it was always in me to love animals so much. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to watch TV. All I had was nature and animals to grow up with. Naturally, I have grown too attached to them.”
Having housed a couple of stray cats when she was young, and adopted a stray Indie named Gunda in her primary school days, Samyukta says that
pets
changed her life. “I picked up Gunda near a drain. He was with me for 13 years. I also had a few stray cats; they used to visit our home when I was young. Growing up with animals has changed the way I look at life. Today, one of the most important relationships I have in my life is with animals,” she says.
Welcome home, LaylaWhile she has fostered many dogs and cats, it is Layla, a Persian-mix, who rules the house now. “After Gunda passed away, I didn’t have the strength to have another dog. But of course, I’ve fostered many and taken care of them in times of need. One fine day, I decided to adopt a cat and sent out a message saying that I was looking to adopt one. One person sent me a photo of Layla. I was just thinking of having a cat and was listening to Eric Clapton’s Layla, which is about what one does when they’re lonely. The next moment, I went to the location and picked her up. The song was my inspiration to name her Layla as that was the moment I felt she should be with me,” says Samyukta.
‘Cats show their love in a unique manner’Samyukta says that there have been so many moments when Layla made her feel emotional. “Cats show their love in a unique manner. When I am packing, she sits on my suitcase. Whenever I am not OK or have fallen sick, she follows me like she is part of my body. I miss her a lot when I am away and do video calls regularly. When I am back after a long gap, Layla has her own way of showing anger. She doesn’t respond to me nor sees me eye to eye. They’re too cute like that.”
‘I’ve done crazy things as a pet mom’Samyukta lists down some of the crazy things she has done for her cat. “I get attached to animals a lot, and with Layla, it’s a lot more. I was in Hyderabad for a shoot on New Year’s Eve. My brother called me and said that Layla misses me. I booked a flight to spend New Year’s with her and went back,” she says, adding, “I buy her a lot of things, like games, cat dens, playhouse, and toys. But she likes to follow a mosquito, play with my rubber band, and sleep on a carton box. People know I have a cat. So, many pet stores send me their new stuff. She will go crazy for those few minutes. That is something I like to see often, which is why I pamper her a lot.”
‘My time with Layla is precious’“Growing up, I wanted to have the qualities of a dog. But I realised it is easier to be a cat,” says Samyukta, adding, “My time with Layla is precious. No matter how tough the day is, when I come back and play with her and wake up next to her, I feel at home. She plays, stares at me at night, sits on my chest, and does random things as she’s curious. I don’t have bad days because of Layla.”
Cat myths busted“People say cats aren’t expressive, but they are. Many label them as a bad omen, but in several countries, they worship cats. It is important to communicate with your cat. People think they don’t understand as well as dogs, but they do. They get moody and it takes time to train them, but they do learn,” Samyukta says. She adds that she can associate with the term ‘crazy cat lady’. “They have this power to make you have more than one pet. I, too, brought another stray, but Layla was too possessive.”
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