West Side Mews: Freyja, an Upper West Side Charmer with an Impish Personality

By Victoria Cumings

Named after the Norse goddess of love and battle, little Freyja encapsulates both qualities with her sweet nature and rambunctious spirit. Playful and affectionate, she is constantly enchanting her pet parents, who dote on her and enjoy watching her adorable antics.

Freyja was born at the Hudson Yards carriage horse stables, the youngest of a litter of kittens. Her father was a Russian Blue, recognizable in Freyja’s perfect pointy face, large ears, and huge golden eyes. Almost pure black, pretty Freyja has 12 silky white hairs in the soft velvety fur on her chest. She has also inherited some personality characteristics of the breed, being clever, tenacious, and inquisitive, but also warm and devoted.

Now a year-and-a-half old, little Freyja is a delight, skipping around her apartment from one perch to the next. With her kitten-ish disposition, one second Freyja will be peeping out over the piano, or stretched across an armchair, then quick-as-a-flash at the window lying in her sun hammock or doing some birdwatching.

Playtime is all the time for Freyja, and with her assortment of toys and a lovely view onto a large tree in the backyard, she has an abundance of things to keep her occupied. A favorite is a device that pops little furry feathery tips out of holes in the side of it, which provides Freyja with endless entertainment. She also enjoys grabbing at dangly trinkets on a wand, having felt toys tossed to her, and batting around mini coils and springs (most of which of course end up stashed under the stove).

Having inherited the sweet temperament typical of Russian Blues, Freyja’s lovableness is irresistible. She enjoys stretching out for cuddles, gentle head rubs, and the occasional belly tickle. She’s also a fan of burrowing. Be it tissue paper, a box, her adorable pumpkin-shaped tent-bed, or worming her slender body under the carpet, Freyja will nestle in, nose-first. Her expertise in wriggling came in handy when, after being spayed, she managed to escape her surgical funnel collar. Wanting to prevent her from picking at her stitches her pet parents tried putting her in a baby onesie (just picture how cute that was), but she squirmed her way out of that too!

To thank her parents for showering her with love and attention, Freyja also does her best to be helpful around the house. She’ll curl up in a box by her dad’s desk, keeping him company and sending him good vibes whilst he works, then supervise mom doing the cooking. At laundry time Freyja will watch to ensure the spin-cycle goes well, then thoughtfully guard the pile of warm clothes by sitting on them as they’re being folded.

Not to say there aren’t times Freyja can be more unhelpful than helpful . . . after inspecting the toilet for adequate cleaning, the pleasure she takes in unspooling the paper is fun to observe but a mess to clean up!

At bedtime, Freyja is only settled for so long. After her last meal for the day around midnight she’ll relax in bed for a while, then her energy and curiosity will get the better of her and she’ll go on the prowl. Be it for a box to chew on, a sofa to scratch, a rug to crawl under, or digging out toys hidden under appliances, Freyja is always on the lookout for some new bit of fun or mischief to get into, one of her many endearing traits.

Freyja has caused her pet mom to become (self-described) ‘cat obsessed’. And no wonder – with her charming nature, comical antics, and sociable character, this kitty is clearly a source of much fun, wonder, and joy!

Fabulous Freyja – popping into the hearts and minds of all she meets . . .