Jennifer Yadav: Balancing a Creative Career & Tips for New Pet Parents

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In this episode, Gemma chats with Jennifer Yadav, a multi-talented performer and proud cat mom to three senior kitties. Jennifer shares her journey from theater to television and film, offering invaluable advice for actors on building a sustainable career and tips for artists considering a move to NYC. Plus, she discusses the joys and responsibilities of life with cats, sharing practical advice for pet parents on providing the best care.

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Resources:

• Watch NYC Pet Tails webisode on TNR
• Watch NYC Pet Tails webisode on Separation Anxiety
• Temptations Cat Nip Flavor: Buy Now
• Check out Meowtel

Connect with Jennifer:

• Follow Jennifer on Instagram: @jenniferyadav
• Visit Jennifer’s website: www.jenniferyadav.com
• See Jennifer on FBI: Watch the Clip

Get in Touch:

• Instagram:@tailsandtasselspod, @gemmasmithnyc
• Email us at: TailsandTasselsPod@gmail.com
• Leave a comment below!

Transcript

Gemma Smith (00:02.446)
Hi Kitty Cats, welcome back to another episode of Tails and Tassels, the show where you explore the lives of burlesque and nightlife performers, their craft, their cats, and the ways these worlds collide. I'm your host Gemma Smith. By day, I'm a manager at a kitten nursery, and by night, I host the Catbaret, New York City's cat-themed variety show. Today's episode is all about creativity, career transitions, and cats.

I'm chatting with Jennifer Yadav, a multi-passionate performer who shares her journey from theater to TV and film, tips for building a sustainable acting career, and her advice for new pet owners. Before we jump in, I'd love your input. I've created a quick Google form linked in the show notes where you can share what you'd like to see in our brand new Patreon community. Your feedback will help shape what we create together.

So be sure to check it out after the episode and stay tuned for when you can join. Now let's get to today's interview. I'm thrilled for today's guest. She is not only a dear friend, but also a Catbaret performer. Welcome Jennifer Yadav to the podcast. She's a New York City based actor, voiceover artist and singer.

Jennifer's journey began with a love for performance that blossomed in her childhood, and she's since built an impressive career in theater, television, film, and education. She's a multi-passionate creative and has performed off-Broadway, taught high school science, worked as a professional actor, while also balancing her work as an adjunct professor. And like I said, Jen's no stranger to the Catbaret. She sang and tap danced in our last show.

And to top it all off, she's a proud cat mom with three kitties at home. And fun fact, Jen is my first guest to have more than two cats. Welcome to Tales and Tassels, Jen. Thank you so much, Gemma. It's an honor to be here. I'm really excited about it. Yes, and as I was reading that intro, I saw in the video that you have your cats near you. Their ears are burning.

Gemma Smith (02:20.962)
I have two of them right next to me right now. This is Jade. I got her in 2009 and they estimated that she was a little less than a year old. So she is about almost, I would say 15. that's amazing. She's beautiful. Yeah, she's never really got big. She's like a tiny, tiny cat. I'll just show you. Here's the other one, Yoda. This one was a little abandoned kitty.

in a yard two doors away from me when I lived around the corner in the Bronx. And I've had her since she was probably five, six weeks old. She's very person specific, I will say. She's got a lot of the feral in her, I think, when other people are around. So I haven't shared this on the podcast, but Jen and I, met producing a web series called NYC Pet Tales. was almost a decade ago.

So Jen, would you be able to share a little bit about that project, how we met and your experience? Absolutely. Yeah, that was a wonderful project. So actually Gemma and I initially met at a holiday networking function. We had the same talent manager at the time. And so we met, we networked. Gemma had kind of an actor group that was meeting that I started going to. And out of that group came this web series, NYC Pet Tails.

which is really the precursor to Tales and Passos. And it was a series that was focused on tips for all pets, all types of pets really. But we did a lot of dogs and cats. And so it was actually a great experience. We crowdfunded for that. And I actually wrote two of the episodes and I helped produce the series itself. But the two specifically that I helped to write and that I was in.

One was about separation anxiety and that was with my dog, Charlie, who unfortunately just recently passed away. She was quite a bit of a senior dog. But she was in that as she was a rescue, also from the Bronx, that someone sort of left for me outside. And I had her for many, many years and she did have some separation anxiety issues. So we had a great episode about that. We went to see Cynthia Okamoto, who gave us some real tips that actually worked quite well.

Gemma Smith (04:31.712)
And then the second episode that I was involved in was about trap, neuter, and release. So you and I both went actually, right, to the ASPCA workshop on this. Yeah, I remember we became TNR certified so that we were really doing our research to learn how we could best do the episode and help cats do Right, right. And so TNR is Trap, Neuter, Release. And that's sort of a city run program to try to control the feral cat population.

So it essentially involves trapping feral cats, having them spayed or neutered, and then re-releasing them in the environment so that they, you know, they're very territorial, they stay in that environment so new cats don't come in, but they are not just, you know, excessively reproducing. So we did a whole episode about that and we did a demonstration. Actually Jade was in that episode, this one here. And then a stuffed cat, Olivia, I still have her too. Yeah, so, yeah, was really great.

I just wanted to say I think that was our best episode actually because it was so informative. There was a step-by-step guide of how you do TNR and maybe I can link it in the show notes if folks still wanna watch NYC Pet Tales. We created two seasons of a web series and I can link that episode in the show notes. Yeah, I definitely think you should because it's still very useful information. It's certainly a program that's still run. And if there is an excessive feral cat population in your area, this might be the answer.

And Jen, have to say, I loved working with you on this web series. It was a new project for me and you were the perfect co-producer because not only were you so passionate about cats and animal welfare, but also you're a doer. You were really invested in our project and getting things done and even pushing me like Gemma, we got to get sponsorships and we went around and we got sponsorships from folks. And I really appreciate that about you.

Same, thank you so much. You really were an excellent co-producer. And honestly, you're such a go-getter and I always learn so much from you and from working with you. And if you recall, we also produced a comedy show, Applause for Paws, and we even made a large donation for that. Yes, I remember we had the big check, we presented it to Second Chance Dog Rescue. It was a great night and applause for Paws. Yes, we produced this comedy show way before I did Cat Beret. I want to say it was like,

Gemma Smith (06:50.606)
2015. So that also kind of led into eventually starting more live performance. And you and I were like the host in between different comedians. But then we came up and talked about our mission and it went hand in hand with the web series. Yeah. Yeah, that's actually that's really interesting. So we're kind of coming full circle here on this podcast. Exactly. And now speaking more to your your own journey and your own creative process, can you share a little bit

about your journey and your background in theater events, live performance. Sure, yeah. It's interesting because I was thinking about, you know, the question of like, how does my performance career and my love of path, like how do they intersect? Where did they come from? And it actually, they both started at such a young age.

I, as you mentioned in my lovely bio, thank you for that. But as you mentioned in my bio, I did start as a child performer. I was on the Gong Show. I won the Gong Show. was kind of a traveling tour of the Gong Show in Niagara Falls when I was four. And then I was on a television show called Tiny Talent Time that actually was a Canadian show. And then I performed quite a bit around the local area of Buffalo when I was very young. And I also have a very vivid memory at that same age. I was about seven years old.

And I was driving with my parents through, my family had a house up in Canada and it was winter time and it was a snow storm and it was blizzardy and cold. And we were driving along and there was a cat at the side of the road and she was a very obviously pregnant cat and she was struggling a little bit. So my parents stopped and my mom didn't want to leave the cat there. So we took the cat and basically smuggled it into the United States.

They took the cat and kind of like shoved it down onto the floor of the car, covered it with a bunch of coats and we drove it home to the States and we took this cat in and within a couple of weeks she gave birth to, I don't know, about five or six kittens. And so we had the kittens, but we kept them for about eight weeks and I took my friends and walked around the neighborhood and we rehomed all of the kittens. How old were you again? I was seven.

Gemma Smith (09:08.79)
So this is like a fair, you know, right around the time when I was doing some of this child performance stuff too. So I feel like these two memories are like in the same time period really sort of ingrained in me. So the animal rescue thing was definitely a very early experience for me, just like performing. So, you know, there's where the intersection starts, I guess. But to go back to my sort of acting career, yeah, I started, like I said, as a child performer.

I started doing theater in Buffalo. I did that throughout high school, a little bit in college, but then I started my, I want to say now my side career, but it was actually my first real career as a science teacher. that I was a high school science teacher for 15 years. taught biology and chemistry. I was teaching high school when I moved to New York City, in fact, in 2009, but I really moved here because I wanted to act. So I'm happy to say that that is.

slowly becoming my side gig, but we're not quite there yet. I completely understand in New York City, anyone listening or wanting to move here to pursue their dreams, their creative passions. Yeah, you got to have some side hustles or a day job and then just grow your creative passions on the side. So you moved here in 2009. And what would you say are some of your favorite creative gigs that you've had over the years?

I'm just gonna start by saying, particularly for anyone who is thinking about moving to New York City, relocating here and pursuing something like theater, I think you don't wanna discount the really valuable experiences that you get in other cities because I had some really amazing acting, creative experiences, I would say, in Buffalo. I did a lot of community theater. I had some amazing roles and some really great on-stage experiences that

I probably would not have had if I grew up in New York City or if I had come earlier than I did. So I just want to just start with that, that you can have a wonderful creative experience wherever you are. One thing that I've learned is that as you start developing and writing your own, I should have started writing a long time ago. It's something that's a passion to find now. And I wish that someone had said that to me many years ago, start writing your own stuff. That being said.

Gemma Smith (11:31.064)
Since I moved to New York City, I've had quite a few really interesting and creative experiences. spent, well, let's see, I just did this in Long Island a week ago. So I guess I have for 13 years been doing the Jackie Mason musical, which has been an interesting and, for the last, I guess it's been.

13 years, because I just did this in Long Island a week ago, I've been doing the Jackie Mason musical, which has been a very interesting experience, a really huge learning experience to play the same role over and over for so many times on many different levels. And I've grown in so many different ways since I started with that show. I've gone through so many experiences, know, stage fright, having it, getting over it.

all through this one show. that was really, it's really been a big part of my life since I've been here. It was something that started at the Broadway Comedy Club. It's a weekly show. We eventually moved off Broadway, just for a little while, for about a year. And then now it kind of tours in different places and it comes back once in a while. So that's been an interesting experience. So I've also, just in terms of coming to New York City, what's been really interesting is the move into television and film. When I was,

when I was home in Buffalo, you I moved here when I was 36. And so all of my experience in Buffalo was theater. So I moved to New York really without very much training. I always had vocal training, but I never really went to acting class. And my training was just kind of like trial by fire. Throw me up on stage. She can sing, get her up there and she'll figure it out. that's kind of how I had my initial training. And then when I came here and actually started training and

and just learning about the craft of acting, that's been a real life changing experience, honestly. And so the move into television and film has been very interesting for me on a lot of different levels, especially as someone coming from community theater and learning to just sort of internalize things and be... Yeah, I absolutely love what you're saying, especially something that stood out to me was that you moved to New York City at 36.

Gemma Smith (13:37.312)
And some people might be listening, might be in their 20s. Like I didn't move to New York till I was 26. And I thought, I'm late to the game. I'm late. No, you can keep learning and growing. And there are parts for people at every age. You're never too late. And I love what you said about getting your start also in other cities because there may be more opportunities for you there. So you came to New York.

You did the Jackie Mason musical. You can sing. You started taking acting classes. Now you're moving into television and film. And so you've been learning more about acting for the camera. And you did have a role, though. I mean, this is a huge win. You booked a role in an episode of FBI on CBS. So what was that experience like? Honestly, that was really amazing. Yeah, I still I did make it a goal. A couple, you know, just sort of.

When we were in COVID and everybody was on a lockdown and we were all re-evaluating what we were doing, I honestly, I spent a lot of years when I first moved here, just kind of trying to solidify my situation in New York City. It's a difficult place to live. So it took me a while to really feel that I was confident enough to start pursuing things like television. But I decided during COVID that I was gonna really try to make this move. So I made it a goal and I booked two television episodes actually. The first one was on a show called Everything's Trash.

which is actually it's a comedy show that was it was so much fun. I had one line and What stuck out for me in that experience? I'll tell you that was my first television television experience was you know, course I've done some background work over the years So I did a few different background, you know roles here and there and I did a stand-in a couple of times so I've been I've been on a television set and I had some experience with

what was going to happen and I knew what happened when you were a background performer. But the difference between how you're treated as a background performer and as soon as they give you one line, it's just so dramatic. It's really, really, that was one thing that really stood out to me. was like, wow, this is dramatically different treatment right now. So yeah, as soon as you get that first co-star, you're like in a real different category. So that was an interesting thing to think about since I really, literally only had one line.

Gemma Smith (15:52.416)
I had someone whose job it was to follow me and these other two actors around literally all day, take us around set, bring us coffee, bring us water. It was a super interesting experience actually. And just, you know, the other thing that really is so interesting when you're on a television or film set, but particularly television is just the number of crew members involved in putting this thing together. That's really, it's phenomenal how many people work together. So seamlessly, it's really, you know, the crews are just so important. That's just it.

It's an amazing thing to watch, Totally, totally agree. I was a stand-in for a little while on Orange is the New Black. And so I've had that experience. I don't think I've seen that clip of you. I'm going to have to look this up later. Do you remember the one line? If not, it's OK. What was my one line? It was something like, my god, I was a political moderator in this debate.

It was something like, and what do you have to say, whatever. And I did it like with this like really low kind of growly voice. The director was like, I'm so scared of you. I love it. It was so great. It was a female director. I don't remember that line. my gosh. What a great experience that like you felt relaxed, even though yes, it kind of stings that you noticed a vast difference between the treatment of background players and person with one line, but you had, wanted to feel confident and comfortable saying your line. So it sounded like.

It was a good experience for you. then the FBI episode that I have seen your clips from that, because I believe it's in your reel, that was next, right? How was that experience? Yeah, fact, was amazing. Those two episodes happened within just a few months of each other. And this was actually before the strike. So since then, you know, we're trying to build momentum back up.

Yeah, so the FBI episode was really, that was season five, episode two, I think it is. And it was really an incredible experience. It was two really very full meaty scenes. There was one scene involving the SWAT team coming in, which was so cool to watch. Even just like being part of it, it was really cool to watch. So, and then the other scene was my family and I being questioned by two of the FBI investigators. So yeah, and so.

Gemma Smith (18:07.552)
In the FBI role, I was playing an Indian woman. I am half Indian, so that's one of my sort of marketable types. And I guess this is another thing that I would say for anyone who's listening who is an aspiring actor is that, you you really want to lean into the things that make you you, you know, your own heritage and your own sort of quirky traits that you think, you know, people might not like. Those are the things that are going to make you stand out and make you practical. So something to keep in mind.

That's such a good tip, Jen. And that leads me into my next topic in question, because earlier you mentioned you've become passionate about writing your own work. And you're not only an actor, but also a writer. So you're working on a project called Life Coach, which I think also might incorporate your pets, perhaps. I'm not sure. But it incorporates what makes you you and a lot of your own personality. So can you share a little bit about that project?

Yeah, absolutely. Yes, this is something that I've been working on for with a partner for a little over a year. And it is a 30 minute comedy series. So we we planned out sort of a three season arc and wrote a few episodes. And we've just really been focusing on working on the pilot and streamlining the pilot and treatment to pitch for funding. So Life Coach is essentially it's a 30 minute comedy.

It's about an unemployed actor who becomes a life coach for actors. It's actually really a two person story. It's about two artists who form this life coaching business kind of on a whim and end up kind of coaching each other in the process. so yeah, so the, the, the story does involve my cats. In fact, I play Joe, who is the life coach. The name actually came from my grandmother and

She is a little bit of a hot mess, but she always takes care of her cats. She has a lot of feral cats. So because I have three cats right now and there tends to be, you know, there are a lot of feral cats in this neighborhood. Not as many as there used to be, thankfully, but I do tend to have feral cats that come around. So that was definitely a part of the story. She feeds these cats, even though she's kind of a hot mess and can't take care of herself. She's like very focused on feeding the cats and taking care of them. So yeah, they certainly do play a role. I actually wrote it.

Gemma Smith (20:30.958)
kind of assuming that we might be filming in my own apartment. So I was like, well, of course the animals are gonna be in it. And it's big part of the comedy because my first client comes in and is allergic to cats. So that's kind of part of our physical comedy. You know, it's so funny as I was preparing for your episode, Jen, I totally forgot that Life Coach is a creative project. Well, I know it's a creative project you're working on, but that it also involves your cats. So I'm so happy that we mentioned that. Now taking it back to Cat Beret because

I love the cat beret and you've performed at the cat beret recently in April. So we've heard that you do musical theater, do film and TV, you're creating your own series. What's your experience getting to perform in a cabaret type setting? And can you share a little bit about your act for cat beret? Absolutely. Well, I had the honor of playing with your husband actually in this one. So Alan played the upright bass and we had Josh Torvey on guitar and

I sang and tap danced to Stray Cat Strat by the Stray Cats, which actually, here's a little tidbit for you. That was my very first 45 inch record that I bought at record theater with my little stamps when I was in seventh grade. That's a real sentimental song for you then. Yeah, it really is. Yeah. And that'll date me for our listeners, if anybody can figure out when that happened. Yeah, they're like.

They're like, record, huh? Right. 45, what does that mean? For the youngins out there, this is when you have to put the little fat thing in the middle of the record player to make it work. Nice. OK, I love that. And you just reminded me, I should have my husband on the podcast. Like, Alan is a musician. Yeah. So he'll be on my list.

Now, before we move on to your cats segment of the episode, is there anything else regarding your creative process or any other projects inspired by your cats that you want to or involving your cats that you want to share? Just the last thing that I'll share is that, you know, I am also from Buffalo. And so there is ironically a big film scene happening in Buffalo right now.

Gemma Smith (22:44.298)
lots of tax incentives for the producers out there. And I actually went back and filmed one of my first features in Buffalo a few years ago. And I've recently been working with the same person that directed that movie on another movie that he wrote called Running After Me and that we are in the process of funding to get this movie made. So I'm pretty excited about that. And I don't want to really say much about it, but that is something that is in the works. And...

going to put a plug out there for the film scene that's happening in Buffalo if anyone is looking for a not so far away but very historic location for film and projects. Ooh, that's a really good tip, Jen, and we're excited to hear more. So our listeners will stay tuned. I'll have all Jen's contact information in the show notes. now we've talked about your craft, your creative process, your projects. Now let's talk about your cats.

So we already got a little sneak peek into Jade and Yoda, but let us know your third cat and what's their name and how did that kitty come into your life? So my third cat is Ringo, not named after Ringo Starr actually, but I guess sort of renamed because this poor little kitty who is a girl had ringworm for a really long time when she was a kitten.

So was a kitten from a rescue group, she was being housed at the vet's office because of this ringworm situation. So what was really unfortunate about that is that she was isolated for such a long time. So when I took her in, took a really, really, it's taken a really long time for her to socialize properly. She's kind of getting there. In the beginning, there was a lot of, it was so funny because.

I could tell that people played with her through the cage because she used to like to play with me like around the door or like underneath the door. Like, especially if I was like sitting like somewhere like, you know, in the bathroom or on the chair and there's like a door next to me. She always wanted to play underneath the door or around it, but never like right next to me. And then she was doing a lot of fighting. She had a lot of kitten behavior, but she was much bigger. By the time I got her, I think she was in isolation for like four months. It was a long time.

Gemma Smith (24:54.358)
And so when I got her, she was much bigger than what the original pictures that we saw. Jack was like, I thought we were getting a kitten. She's a grown cat. But she was, you know, she's a pretty big girl. She's long, actually. She's over where she is right now. She's not around me right now, or I would show you with the camera. Well, I'd love to. I want to pop in. This is a good opportunity,

because I work in animal welfare and ringworm is a common fungal infection. And although it's not life threatening to cats or dogs, it is highly contagious. And so it's true that these cats, kittens who have this fungal infection have to be isolated in order for it to be treated through either like medicated baths or an oral medication.

So it's a good plug if anyone out there wants to help these kittens socialize these kittens like Ringo's situation, you can foster Ringworm kittens from different organizations. They often will provide you with the supplies, the medication, and it's so important because it helps them have socialization before they get adopted. But it sounds like Ringo, how's she doing now? She's warmed up to your home. yeah, she's come a long way. I I think I've had her since, I guess 2015 or 16 now probably, right?

Yeah, I think I've had her since 2015. So that is what, almost nine years that she's been here. yeah, she honestly, probably the bigger adjustment was my cats adjusting to another new cat because you know, they're very, you know, cats are territorial. So that's another thing. Honestly, if we're talking about tips for pet owners, one thing to really, really think about is how you are going to integrate a new animal into your home if you already have one. So luckily,

My cats have been around for a lot of different sort of feral and rescue cats in and out. So it's not too stressful for them. But like Jade, for example, is over here. She moved to this side. This one, I got her in 2009 and she has been around for, I mean, really countless numbers of cats because we have so many feral cats in the backyard at my apartment around the corner before I moved here. We had a cat that we took in here that had kittens that we rehomed.

Gemma Smith (27:11.106)
and so, you know, she's been around for a lot of cats coming in and out. Yoda also has, that's the other one that I showed you earlier, this kind of fat one here. But she is very, very, I'll call her person specific. She really, really wants to be around me. And so what's really unique about these cats is these two really kind of stick together in the same area and Ringo is still kind of on her own, although she will play with Yoda quite a bit.

So she's comfortable with everybody, but I kind of feel like Ringo got along better with the dog. So the dog recently packed away. So this is another adjustment we're having. It's like one less animal over the last few months. And how does that situation change the dynamic in here? But these two, the ones I just showed you, those are the older ones. They're both, like I said, Jade is about 15 or 16 and Yoda is about 15.

So they are seniors and they just really want me to be sitting right here on this futon where I am. So they don't like me to sit at my desk. They want me to sit right here so that they can each be one on either side of me. So I have to have like a separate little setup for my computer so that can like sit here and show them. They don't want to sit next to me like when I'm, if I go into like the other room and watch like a movie with Jack or whatever, they don't really want to sit over there. They don't want to be on the bed. They really want me to be sitting right here.

and then they like to be on each side of me. So this is where I try to spend my time when I'm home doing work and whatever. That is so cute. That is like a cat lover's dream. You have your cats on either side of you while you're working and it sounds like they've gotten maybe more like this as they've gotten older, like more wanting to be near you. Is that true? yeah. For sure. And especially after COVID because all of a sudden I was home 24 seven.

So they were always around me, you know? And I mean, I'm in a small apartment here, as you can imagine in New York, and there are two of us. you know, in order to separate, I was in this room, my husband was in the other room, so that we had our own little space, you know? And so the cats were just always around me. I would kind of like sprawled out on the floor, on the rug, I my yoga mat, and they really, really, really started getting closer and closer and wanted to be around me all the time during, but definitely during COVID.

Gemma Smith (29:26.882)
That made a difference, think, overall. And it also made a difference in terms of how much Ringo was able to socialize both with the other cats and with me a little bit more. I mean, she always kind of sought me out, but then she was always a little bit skittish, know, for she's recent, like over the last, I would say four years really, really gotten over that. I know I think COVID made a difference, just the proximity. So I think that going back to your point about fostering kittens who have been separated for any reason, it's really, really, really important if you have the time to actually sit and physically

socialize with them, engage them. You one thing that Ringo always liked to do is play with toys. She just didn't want to, she doesn't, she still doesn't really want to sit on my lap. You know what I mean? So she's not like a, she doesn't want me to pick her up and carry her around the house, but not every cat likes that, you know, but she all, she would always engage with toys, like those little fishing toys. And so, yeah. Jen, that's the best way to play with cats are with the toys, with the feathers, on a string.

People who might be new to being a cat parent when their kittens want to play with them with their fingers because it's cute and their kittens. But as kittens get older to be a grown cat, they're going to think your fingers are toys and it's not going to be as cute. So you've got to play with them with those kinds of toys. Yes, I love that you said it's okay that she's not a lap cat and that she doesn't want to be walked around or held because not all cats are and like let cats live. We have to love them for who they are.

And your special time with her is playing with her with a wand toy. And that's how she engages in her love for you and with you. Yeah. And she, of course, and she loves like catnip and kind of rolling around with the other cat and playing with the other cat. Although, like I said, she's a little bit younger than the other two. So, you know, she was a little too, I think, aggressive for them when she first got here because she thought she was a kitten, but she was a little bit bigger, you know, and she was like fighting a little too hard. So it took them a little while to really adjust.

But they're all friends now, which is great, I think. It's interesting, too, about the other say one more thing about carrying cats around. So Jade was the oldest, right, that we thought is very, very tiny. She was always a small cat. But as she's gotten older, she's kind of like getting a little bit smaller, you know? And so she is she likes to be held, but she will be like all four feet, all claws out. So I have to kind of put like I wear like a.

Gemma Smith (31:46.894)
you know, like a scarf or something, like a little, like a raptor. So I can carry her, she really loves to be walked around, but she wants to be able to like dig her claws into something. So I'll just put like a little blanket or whatever and like walk her around and she like, she really absolutely loves that. you know, we've made these little adaptations as they've gotten older. And it sounds like the goal, they all live harmoniously. I recently interviewed a behavior expert. He says, they don't have to be best friends. What you want is that they're roommates.

that they can just live together. And it sounds like they have a good dynamic now after the pandemic, kind of a new normal that's working for your family. Yeah, for sure. You know, I'll say another thing about as these cats are getting older, because I know that when we were in previous conversations, we've had, we've talked about kitty dementia. And so I was really kind of wondering if Jade, it's still kind of a thing. sort of wondering if is Jade developing kitty dementia because she does have

periods where she'll just sort of stand and yell randomly. But I've discovered actually, and I don't know if it's dementia or not, but sometimes she just wants to be picked up and carried around and held, and then it'll go away right away. So I don't know if she's out that I don't know if she's losing her hearing a little bit or if she's not. I'm not sure exactly what the issues are there. But another thing that I've noticed though is particularly as she's gotten older and

She's lost a couple of her teeth over the years, right? So sometimes she yells because she wants like different varieties of like food or meats or like certain treats that she likes that, you know, she, that those are, she yells specifically for those types of things. So I've had to sort of experiment with what are the kinds of things that she likes.

Ooh, I love that. Yes, cats have a very, I don't love that she's yelling, but I love that you figured out for you and for her what she needs by her yells. My cat Luna has a very specific meow and it's always when I'm already about to feed her. It's like, girl, you see me, I'm putting the food down on the floor right now. It's so cute that she has this little meow, like she's scared I'm going to change my mind. Now you've shared a-

Gemma Smith (34:01.388)
bunch of really interesting things about your kitty's personalities and quirks. Are there any additional daily routines or special rituals with your cats that you would like to share? We've heard a few. not necessarily special rituals, just, you know, they're very like specific about when they're feeding times, particularly in the morning. So, you know, I don't really get to sleep in if they're not fed. That's kind of like our main.

sort of thing, but other than that, like I said, they like me to kind of sit here so they can be around me. Okay. Now going back to your cats, I wanted to touch on your cats and your work as an artist, a performer, a singer. How do they handle you practicing at home, singing, top dancing? What are their reactions? You know, I think they're so used to me singing that it probably doesn't.

really fazed them. just kind of sit there and look at me as I walk around, do my warm up and sing, whatever. Tap dancing is a totally different story. So when I was practicing my tap dance, that's when everyone kind of scatters. You know, and especially when I brought in your tap dancing floor, which makes it even like a little bit more ricochets, the sound ricochets a little bit more. And so yeah, they kind of go, you know, they each have their own little

hiding space for things that freak them out. None of my cats are really fans of new people except for Ringo, which is sort of interesting. So one thing that's interesting about Ringo is that she is a brave cat. She'll come out and look at new people and check them out while the other ones will hide. But she's a little more skittish if you try to touch her or pick her up, especially if you're new, right? But Jade eventually kind of really warmed up to new people, but each cat has her own little hiding spot that they go to when.

there's something freaking them out. So I always know where to look for them. And in fact, Jade just discovered a new little spot in a unfortunately a bit of clothing that I kind of moved to a new location. And one day we were looking for her for hours and I was like, where is this hat? And there she was rolled up in the whole little ball of right on top of my newly folded and clean clothing. That's just got a new spot.

Gemma Smith (36:17.454)
That's how it goes. I know I put my clothes out of the dryer on the bed and then there they are. But I love that your cats each have their own hiding spot where they feel safe. And I love that we've heard today about your creative process, about your three kitties. And I was curious, you've shared a lot of advice and tips throughout this podcast, but is there one more tip that you'd like to give to our fellow performers who are cat parents? It could be a product recommendation.

or just something that you'd like to leave us on? don't have a lot of product recommendations necessarily, but I can tell you the products that my cats personally love because they are a little picky, right? So they love fancy feasts, especially the senior pates. They absolutely scream for temptations treats. They love them, particularly the catnip flavor. They really, really like Purina One dry cat food. And those are so they have those very specific tastes.

The last thing that I just want to say in terms of like advice overall is that, you know, I've had cats for many, many years, my own cats. Obviously my parents rescued cats when I was younger, but I started rescuing my own cat. The first two cats that I rescued was, I was 19 years old. So that was like in the early nineties. And I've had cats since then for decades, I've had cats and they've all been rescued. And in the beginning, I used to think that it was no big deal to sort of leave the cats at home for a day or two.

and go on vacation. I think I even left my cats for like four days and I just put out a lot of extra food and water. And you know, they were fine when I came home. Over the years, I've learned that cats really need just as much human attention as dogs do. And so it's not a good idea to leave them alone if you're leaving town. completely agree. We have a cat sitter.

For our cats, happens to stay overnight, but even just being checked in on daily and having some human interaction is really important for cats. So I appreciate you sharing that. And maybe I'll link to a great cat sitting, Meow-tul or something like that, where you can find cat sitters in the area, in your area, if you're looking and listening to this. And I just want to thank you so much for sharing your journey. You have so much going on, multi-passionate.

Gemma Smith (38:35.278)
performer, science teacher, cat mom, cat rescuer. And so I just want to thank you so much for being here. And before I let you go, just want to make sure all of our listeners to follow Jen on Instagram, at Jennifer Yadov, as well as her website. You can view the links in the show notes. Thank you for being here, Jen. Thanks so much. And that's a wrap for this episode of Tales and Tassels. We love hearing from you, so feel free to send us an email.

or voice memo with your burning questions or comments at tailsandtasselspod at gmail.com. Thank you for listening, Kitty Cats, and don't forget to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. It truly helps. Also join our community on Instagram at Tails and Tassels Pod for more updates and behind-the-scenes fun. Until next time, Kitty Cats.