Where did Mimi come from? Mimi was rescued by the Astoria Cat Rescue in March 2024 from a very busy and loud autoshop in Queens. She had a brother rescued by different group, and had to be coaxed out with food. They estimated her age to be about 1.5 years, and she was pregnant upon rescue. She lived as 'Mia' with one of the fosters for 3 months in a nice but cat-dense apartment, and was continually bullied by two of the more vivacious cats. So it seems she's spent the start of her adult life in scaredy cat mode to protect herself! I adopted her July 14, 2024.

How is Mimi doing nowadays? As of September 17th 2026, this is Mimi's rhythm:

• she loves getting pets now! But ONLY behind or next to the couch. She does the excited-cat-stretches and sticks her butt up for me to pet with my hands, and now struts happily up and down the side of the couch while I pet her back, neck, and cheeks.
• she's getting much braver emerging from under the couch when I'm hanging out with her--she's learning it REALLY gets my attention to see her pop out! I can't wait for her to learn she can hang out on top of the couch and get even more cuddles. When I'm sitting on the couch or at the dining room table for meals, she'll wander around, groom herself in the open, loaf on the carpet and watch me, or go take a little doze on the bench by the door.
• when I work from home, she struts out next to my desk and rubs her face on the edge of the legs (still out of arms' reach), to ask for attention. She rarely will sniff my hand if I hold it out. She will rarely take a catnap in a sunbeam on the floor or windowsill while I'm working at my desk.
• her body language is getting more and more confident around me--when I'm petting her and saying hello, she rubs herself on the couch and nearby furniture with her tail tall. Even at night when she's alone, she still mostly walks with it low or tucked, so it's very nice to know she feels confident around me more and more.
• she's not a huge player like she was when I first got her, she much prefers cuddles and hanging out. But -- in September 2026 for the first time, she played with one of her little solo-mouse toys in the daylight in front of me while I was having lunch! I'd never seen her play not at night or on the camera.
• during daylight hours: she sleeps in her little bed-house by my exercise bike and desk, in a cozy and warm corner of the apartment, OR under the couch or puzzle table. She's upgraded from only under the couch! Often comes out ~1pm to eat her lunch and wander a bit before sleeping more. Also sometimes naps on top of the couch ottoman or on the bench by the door, very sweet.
• in the night when I am asleep: she does regular cat things! Eats all her wet food, uses her litter box, scratches cardboard pads, prowls around, 'hunts' the tiny toy mice, bats her toy balls around, grooms herself thoroughly, flops around on the couch, naps on the welcome mat, crawls into her toy caves. Also goes a little into my room to eat the second dinner I leave her right by the entrance (my efforts to bribe her to come in more are slowgoing).
• she is a very good girl: has not scratched anything but her scratchers, uses the litter box very neatly and covers her business and doesn't kick up litter, doesn't climb or get into things, leaves my plant alone. And when she eats too much food too fast, she has been sweet enough to not barf onto my nice rug, but onto the hardwood (most of the time)!
• she loves crunchy treats, and immediately eats them when I drop them. Sometimes will eat them out of my hand, but we still spook a bit. Working on getting her to jump up onto the ottoman to eat them in front of me more consistently.
• she often eats parts of her meals in front of me with the lights on, after a good petting session and when I'm sitting still. (With her back to me and everything!) And occasionally she'll also go use her litterbox, and then come back for more hanging out/pets by the couch.
• Mimi still looks alarmed when she sees my hands or feet move too fast, even while playing. I can tell she's much less tense around me vs. when strangers are in the house. She feels comfortable and safe in her napping house and regularly returns my slow "i love u" blinks. She rubs her face on toys and furniture when we play, and pets her own face on the edge of the wand toys. !!!!
• She naps on shirts I leave for her, and on top of the puzzles I'm working on. Very cute.