MSTPets: Part 11
by Rachel Brown (G3)
An ode to our furry friends who help us study for anatomy practicals, keep us company while we write our papers and thesis dissertations, and welcome us home after a long shift on surgery.
MSTPets: Tabbytha (momma cat), Yukon (light gray), Russet (medium gray), and Bruja (black/brown)
Age: ~1.5 years (Tabbytha); 2 months (Yukon, Russet, Bruja)
MSTParent: Tory Martucci (G4)
Fields of Study: Ornithology (Tabbytha), podiatry (Yukon), food science and nutrition (Russet), ENT (Bruja)
Thesis Titles: “Observational Study of Avian Lifestyles As Seen Through a Window” (Tabbytha); “Correlations Between Sock Color and Feline Interest” (Yukon); “Effects of Indiscriminate Eating on Kitten Growth” (Russet); “Human Tolerance of Neck Massage and External Ear Stimulation” (Bruja)
Fun facts: Tabbytha was a sweet, friendly neighborhood stray who adopted us and ultimately moved in in mid-April. A few weeks later, she surprised us with 3 little babies! Since we jokingly referred to Tabbytha as our little sack of potatoes based on how she liked to be carried around, it seemed only natural to refer to the babies as her little sweet potatoes and give them appropriate potato-themed names (though we had to dig pretty deep into potato cultivar lists to find a dark-colored potato variety that also sounded like a little girl kitten).
MSTPet: Cosette (Cozy)
Age: 1.5 years old, Great Pyrenees
MSTParents: Derek Doss (M1) and Julia Sherwood (VUSN)
Dissertation: “The effect of barking intensity and frequency on producing headaches: a longitudinal study on two adult humans”
Fun Fact: We adopted Cozy spring of last year. She’s grown from 15 lbs to over 80 lbs since then. She has also become a lap dog who loves to lay on and cuddle with Derek and Julia, unless she starts barking at the neighbors or chasing her feline brother and sister (Gary and Clara).
MSTPet: Gary (orange)
Age: 7 years old
MSTParents: Derek Doss (M1) and Julia Sherwood (VUSN)
Dissertation: “Sunbathing and its effect on the purrfect day”
Fun Fact: Gary was born under my house while I was in high school. His mother passed away shortly after, so I bottle fed him from when he was just a couple years old. Because of that, he acts far more like a human/dog than a cat. His favorite activities are sunbathing, snuggling with Derek, and antagonizing Clara.
MSTPet: Clara (black)
Age: 2.5 years old
MSTParents: Derek Doss (M1) and Julia Sherwood (VUSN)
Dissertation: “Active camouflage: the secret to hiding from pets, parents, and scary noises”
Fun Fact: Clara was the first pet that we adopted together. Her name was originally “Catwoman,” which of course had to be changed. Clara sleeps next to Julia every night and hides all day until Julia comes home.
MSTPet: Westley
Age: 2 years old
MSTParents: Sam Beik (G2) and Mike Tackeff
Field of Study: Physics – measuring the trajectories of items pushed off of tables, chairs, and dressers
Fun Fact: Westley loves watching birds, “Chopped,” and that other cat he sees in the mirror.
MSTPet: Beltza (aka Bella)
Age: 8 months old
MSTParents: Ayesha Muhammad (G2) and Dr. Geoff Moseley
Field of study: ludology (the study of games)
Fun fact: Beltza’s name means “black” in Basque. Her siblings included Schwarz (“black” in German) and Czarny (“black” in Polish).
MSTPet: Nellie
Age: 5 years old
MSTParents: Evelyn Kandov (M1) and Aaron Gochman (M1)
Field of Study: Obesity
Fun Fact: Nellie fell out of a fourth story window in a Queens, NYC apartment, and we found her in a shelter all the way in Manhattan with a broken leg. Thankfully, she recovered and is as good as new. Her favorite thing to do is lounge around on her back without a care in the world.