Yasmin Sait: A pet lover's tale - Advocacy, love, and life with furry companions
In an exclusive interview with Yasmin Sait, mother of Kubbra Sait and Danish Sait, she shares her insights and experiences in balancing her love for animals with her professional and personal responsibilities, offering a unique perspective on the intersection of celebrity life and pet advocacy.
Talking about pets, we delve into her deep-rooted love for pets and the profound impact they have had on her life.
Can you tell us about your journey as an animal lover and what initially sparked your passion for animals?
In my younger days, every year I used to visit my maternal grandparents in Ooty. The cats there were very fluffy and healthy as they were home bred, and normally because of the cold weather they would love to cuddle and sleep with you in the blanket.
I guess I developed my fondness for cats from there. I must have been 4 or 5 years old, ever since I have had cats. Luckily both my children are cat lovers too, we can’t imagine a life without the fur around us.
What type of pets do you currently have?
We are proud cat parents. Between the three of us, me and my children, we have five cats.
Are all your cats the same or do they have a character attached to them?
I will start with Beta Sait. She was our Queen, very strong by nature, and a feminist.
Shifu and Sexy live with Kubbra, they both are very different. Shifu is a moody cat with a grumpy face as if he is carrying the whole world on his shoulder. Sexy is too mischievous, one has to be alert with her around the house.
Red and Neko live with Danish. Again, very different from each other. Red has his own mind, and you can’t tell him what to do, he will do whatever pleases him the most.
Neko is very inquisitive. But she has made her way with Red, she knows he is the older one.
Sultaan lives with me. A true lover boy who always wants to give love, he knows how to attract your attention.
I have noticed that all our cats have a streak of our personality and character in them. Maybe living with each other for years we become the same. But I really appreciate how they understand their territory, I mean they don’t mark their territory but, they adjust with unconditional love and make their own space and live in harmony.
Choosing names for pets can be a special and meaningful experience. Can you share the stories behind the names you have chosen for your pets?
Beta: When I used to call out for my children as “Beta” she could be the first one to respond. So, she chose her name herself.
Red: He is a brown cat. I received a picture of him sitting on a red quilt. But I don’t know why I called him Red.
Neko: Cat in Japanese and so Danish, chose her name.
Shifu: He has a round face with a brown nose, Kubbra was reminded of Master Shifu so he is Shifu.
Sexy: Undoubtedly Kubbra calls this Siamese tall and slim cat Sexy.
Sultaan: I hate to pay and buy cats. There was this one lady who was willing to give away her kitten to someone who was a pet lover and could pay her for the bag of food that she had purchased.
Luckily, I got to know from my pet store so I went there and got him with one half bag of food. She had named him Sultaan.
Interestingly I got his name numerologically corrected with aa in his name. And I didn’t want to change his name, As, one off Kubbra’s movies with Salman Khan was Sultaan.
How have your pets enriched your life and your family’s life over the years? Please share an extraordinary or unforgettable experience you have had with pets that has had a lasting impact on your life and your perspective on animal-human relationships.
I got to learn some of the biggest lessons from Beta. I was in Pune and I got to know that suddenly Beta’s health was deteriorating. I came back to Mumbai immediately. It was the 15th of August and Independence Day.
Did you know Veterinary clinics come under Shops and Establishments and not under Medical Care so they had to stay shut on a national holiday? There was not a single doctor available in Mumbai.
I was helpless as her health was dropping by the minute. The following morning was the 16th of August and it was my birthday. I took Beta to her doctor, and they did her scan, put her on IV drips, and then she went through dialysis. We could not save her and finally at about 1.30 pm I had to let her go alone on her journey. I always felt like she was my third child.
They say cats have nine lives. My child Beta taught me the biggest lesson of my life by gifting me her 8 lives on my birthday and leaving me and my world empty forever, she will always live in my heart.
When I miss her a lot, I read the ‘The Rainbow Bridge’ poem.
https://www.rainbowsbridge.com/Poem.htm It gives me peace and happiness.
Can you describe the unique routines or activities that you engage in with your pets on a daily basis and how they contribute to the overall atmosphere in your home? And how do you manage while you travel? And how do you ensure their comfort and safety during your travels?
It’s like having another human being in the house. They always make our home a happy place. They are also a responsibility and a commitment. They can be sick, keeping a reminder of their vaccination cycle, and their daily grooming.
As soon as we wake up, they come to us or we go find them. Our day starts with a cat cuddle. I like to play hide and seek with Sultaan. That way he has his morning exercise and cardio.
The morning routine starts with cleaning their litter box and serving them food and water in clean fresh bowls. Cleaning their eyes, nose and ears with wet tissue wipes. They smartly order and get their work done with our house help.
They are like the members of the family. We keep them in conversations all the time. Our cats understand English, Urdu and Tamil. Even when we are travelling, the house is cleaned to keep the environment fresh.
We make sure the help is there to attend to their needs and spend some time with them so they don’t feel lonely. We make sure the lights are on in the evening while we are away so they are safe and secured and don’t miss us.
We are very lucky all our house helps are pet lovers or I can say they become one after meeting ours.
Can you tell us about the dietary considerations you have made for your pets and any unique or homemade recipes or feeding practices you have adopted to ensure their well-being? And how do you manage while you travel?
I recollect that for Beta I used to make chicken/ beef mince and rice dishes. But for our other cats now, we have put them on dry food habits. This works because it is safe, as there is a chance of fresh food spoiling. When we are travelling, we know they are eating safe food at their leisure, that’s the advantage of serving them dry food.
We feed them on Royal Canin, Persian adult, fit 32, or Hair and Skin as the growing older coat has become soft and shiny all of the same brand. During COVID they were vomiting. So, the doctor put them on gastrointestinal food for almost a year.
We realised it was due to the smell of the sanitizer.
What guidance or tips would you offer to individuals who are considering becoming first-time pet owners drawing from your own experience as a pet parent and animal lover?
Pets are just like children. As parents, you have to play the good cop and the bad cop to discipline them. You can’t give them a free hand nor should both yell at them.
One has to be firm like the iron hand in velvet gloves. Too much love without firmness and they can throw tantrums. We do give them some creamy treats from time to time to appreciate them.
Can you share your insights on the small everyday actions and gestures that individuals can take to contribute to the well-being and welfare of animals regardless of their financial resources or time constraints?
From our everyday food whether we cook at home or order from outside, you can keep aside chicken and mutton bones or any leftover food bread to feed the stray instead of throwing it in the dustbin.
It’s sad to see them eat from the garbage. Usually, strays are ferocious and angry because they are hungry. With the apartment kind of scenario, we can’t adopt all the animals but it’s okay if you can feed him on the roadside.
I had adopted a stray and named him Jimmy, he would wait for me to come back home. He would hear the sound of my vehicle and he would come running to the corner of the street and bring me back home. What a joy that was. They understand love just like humans.
Can you recount instances where you have integrated your passion for animals into your work within the entertainment industry and how it has influenced your career or your ability to raise awareness about animal welfare?
In Bombay our cats walked the ramp with Kubbra for a cause.
Are there any upcoming or ongoing projects related to animals that you are currently involved in or planning for the future?
Nothing as such, but like I said whatever little we can, we do.
What are your thoughts on love for animals and their welfare and how it influenced your broader perspective on your life and personal values?
People In Mysore feed the cows. Though I’m very scared when I go to my friend’s house, I feed them bananas and spinach as they love it.
Earlier there used to be a green land where cows would gaze at fresh green grass but nowadays there’s nothing around for them, I feel very bad because people dump everything in the garbage, and the cows eat out of the garbage they also end up eating plastic.
If we can segregate the kitchen waste that can be fed to the nearby cows that would be so useful without mixing up curries and masalas.
If even one street tries to poll in all the kitchen wet waste and give it away to the cows in the surrounding areas, that would be so nice, and that will also bring down the garbage collection for BBMP.
