West Side Mews: Marmalade Brothers Living Large in the West 80’s

By Victoria Cumings

What a perfect pair! Say hello to Jimin and V, beautiful 14-month-old ginger tabbies proud to call the UWS home.

These fine-looking brothers are truly born and bred in the neighborhood. They showed up as kittens at a local bodega, where they were discovered by the shop owner. Keen to find a good home for them, he was very grateful when a customer walked in for a Diet Coke and, being a cat lover with a big heart, walked out with two new golden-haired babies!

The boys’ unique names are taken from a “K-Pop” (Korea-pop) band, with the bond they have as strong as that of the two singers in the group. Inseparable, Jimin and V like to spend their time cuddled up licking each other’s heads, practicing their kitty wrestling, watching wildlife TV, and just generally enjoying life looking out of the window in the sun-filled apartment they share.

Jimin’s beautiful green eyes contrast perfectly with his striking orange coat. There’s also more than a sparkle of mischief in them — look out for shoes left in the hallway! Jimin loves to drag things around the apartment so it’s not unusual for a sneaker or slipper to go missing. Another time it was the TV remote (eventually located far under the bed). Hopefully it wasn’t time for his pet mom’s favorite show…

V enjoys being a lap kitty and is clearly destined to be the chunkier of the two. A lot of the chunk, however, is his gorgeous “spongy” fur, which he likes to warm by the radiator, turning him into a sleepy feline blanket. That’s not to say V hasn’t had his fair share of adventure. A quick wiggle and dash out of the apartment once left him in unfamiliar territory on a lower floor landing. When spotted, he immediately zoomed back to the safety and sanctuary of his apartment; what a fright he had!

The pair are growing up quickly. Their pet mom is proud to pronounce that Jimin and V have officially graduated from “kitten academy” and are now becoming big and strong, hoovering up four healthy grain-free protein meals a day. No doubt with the dedicated attention they get they’ll continue to thrive, with a loving home and self-described softie of a pet mom who is open to treats but determined to keep the two healthy by applying a snacks policy that’s “flexible but firm”.

These energetic boys make clever use of household items to keep themselves entertained. They love a good cardboard box adventure and have fun chasing water bottle caps around the floor. They’re also happy when the laser pointer makes an appearance: with the energy these two have, and their still young age, it’s important they get enough stimulation. No shortage of that with their abundant collection of toys, and the delights of each other’s company.

As with all cats, however, Jimin and V also enjoy a good snooze-fest. They welcome human companionship and won’t hesitate to zonk out together with their pet mom. Whether they’re still in bed in the morning is another question. V’s there, snuggled up, but Jimin will have disappeared as he has other fish to fry. Where does he go? Only he and V know, but Jimin does have an unusual habit of sitting in the bathtub staring intently at the drain. What’s going on? Perhaps a spider poked its head out once, presumably retreating post-haste once faced with curious Jimin!

Two happy little spitfires resting their paws on the UWS . . .