Of all the places to conduct my first interview with a cat, Lazy Dog, the canine-friendly restaurant on Route 59 in Naperville, would not have been my first choice. But if that’s where Sputnik, the certified therapy cat, wanted to meet, who was I to quibble? Seven-year-old Sputnik is a long-haired feline of undetermined breed who takes her work very seriously. She has nearly 15,000 followers on Facebook and Instagram and enjoys regular visits to nursing homes, schools and corporate events.
She lives with Sonya and Curt Stowers, of Naperville, and two other cats. She arrived for our chat in her own personal stroller and introduced me to her human companion aka owner. “This is my assistant Sonya,” she said.
“She helps me with everything. She tells me I’ve lived with her since I was three days old although obviously I don’t remember that. Apparently, we met at the Naperville Area Humane Society, where mom has volunteered for nearly 10 years.
” Sputnik was the smallest of her litter, weighing just four ounces when she was born. It usually takes a kitten eight weeks to grow to two pounds, at which time they’re ready to be spayed or neutered. But starting so tiny it took her 13 weeks to reach that milestone by which time she had wormed her way into the Stowers’ affection and went from foster cat to pet.
“I like to think of myself as the favorite,” Sputnik said. “Spec, the other female cat in the house, just tolerates me but Leo and I get along well. But let�.
