Moms and Dads

Jodi Sta. Maria Brings Awareness to the Lovable Puspins

by Kevyn Gohu
June 5, 2023

A furmom to a puspin herself, Jodi Sta. Maria brings awareness as she ventures through PAWS’ shelter for puspins.

When Puspins (short for Pusang Pinoy) didn’t have a good reputation, they were the victims of abandonment, beatings, and killings. But times have changed and celebrity mom Jodi Sta. Maria further champions that change, now as the loving fur mom to her rescue puspin Naia. Her recent visit to PAWs breaks the many stereotypes about puspins beyond the garbage-messing and feral image they originally had.

Source: PAWS Instagram

The alluring love of a puspin

Although there is a premium on purebred cats especially when they’re almost the size of a dog or as fluffy as hotel-grade linens, the love that a puspin gives is just as (or maybe even more) heartwarming. A puspin, especially strays, “choose” their owners. When their former life has “collapsed” on them, they look for a new family who will provide them with that safety. In the end, puspins want what a purebred has: a loving and safe home (Dybdall and Strasser, 2014).

Besides donations, Jodi even brought her son, Thirdy, to the shelter to provide the love and warmth that all the newly brought-in rescues needed. She passed through every ward, including the quarantine one. Big Boy Donner, one of the rescues, even had an exclusive petting session with the celebrity mom.

And for those wondering about Naia, Jodi Sta. Maria happily reports that her house is now “ruled” by the spoiled puspin. Or at least, he feels like Jodi and Thirdy are living in his house rent-free.

Jodi Sta. Maria's puspin Naia — Source: Jodi Sta. Maria Instagram

Every cat deserves love

Puspin or purebred — all kinds of cats deserve the same love. A cat’s trust is a tricky one to earn, especially when they’ve been hardened by their life on the streets. But when people do earn it, the feeling is like no other. They may act like you’re living in their house rent-free but, it’s their way of saying, “This is my home. You’re part of my pride. You’re my family meow.”

References

Dybdall, K., & Strasser, R. (2014). Is there a bias against stray cats in shelters? People’s perception of shelter cats and how it influences adoption time. Anthrozoös, 27(4), 603-614.