Kristen Taekman Welcomes Two New Family Members: "We Are Adopting!"
The RHONY and RHUGT alum said she was "very excited" about the additions, but needed some advice.
Kristen Taekman ended her week with an unexpected family change.
Fresh off her busy holiday travels, The Real Housewives of New York City alum took to Instagram on Friday to share some big — and very sweet — household news.
“So I’m very, very excited, you guys. This is a very long time coming and I thought I would share our journey with you,” she said in a January 26 Instagram Story. “We are adopting two cats! Yay! We’re getting them tomorrow.”
Kristen went on to confirm she is no stranger to cat-parent life, as she and her family owned another furry friend when they lived in New York City.
Kristen Taekman shares an update on her previous cat, Jingles
“We had our beloved Jingles, which we loved so much, and he is with my parents right now because we couldn’t bring him when we moved in 2020,” Kristen said about her family’s relocation to Los Angeles. “We loved Jingles so much, but I was like, it’s kind of weird to ship a cat across the country.”
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip mom said her children — 15-year-old son Cash and 11-year-old daughter Kingsley — have been wanting another cat ever since; so she and her entrepreneur husband, Josh Taekman, finally agreed to start the adoption process.
“We went to this amazing animal rescue the other day and both kids fell in love with this duo. It’s a mom and a daughter,” she said with a laugh. “It’s a teen-mom situation. So they’re both kind of young cats and they can’t be separated. So we went in wanting one and we’re coming home with two.”
Kristen Taekman stocks up on cat supplies
In preparation for the furry arrivals, Kristen embarked on a massive shopping spree at PetSmart. While she was admittedly "freakin' overwhelmed" by all her options, she ended up leaving with kitty essentials, like organic food, litter boxes, and a cat tower for scratching.
“I may or may not have lost my mind. Will the cats use this?” she asked about the tower. “I’m really, really hoping that they do because I don’t want them to use my couches… The last time I had a cat was four years ago. So I kind of feel like I might need some help.”
Kristen also called on her followers for name suggestions, saying her family was considering calling the younger cat “Bex” and the older cat “Cali.”
“So when once we get our cats tomorrow, we’re gonna show you the cats and we’re gonna tell you the names that we’re thinking about,” she said. “And we’re adopting them, so we’re renaming them. That’s a whole other thing: Is it OK to rename a cat? I don’t know, are they gonna mind?”
Kristen Taekman seeks cat-parenting advice
Kristen returned to Instagram the following day to document her trip to AGWC Rockin’ Rescue. She posted a video of her son, Cash, walking into the animal shelter with a carrier bed in each hand.
“Today’s the day! Rockin’ Rescue! We’re getting our kitty cats,” she said. “Cash are you excited?… Cash you’re a cat dad!”
The Taekmans ultimately went with the names Bex and Cali, which was short for California. Kristen then posted a video of the latter walking around the carpet, seemingly adapted to her new home; however, fans have yet to receive a glimpse at the timid Bex.
“OK, a little kitty cat update: The cats are doing amazing,” Kristen said in another Story. “OK, so lots of questions for you kitty cat people out there. So Cali, totally adjusted, going to the bathroom, everything’s good, eating. And then the little one, she’s been under the bed all day and she won’t come out. So any suggestion?”
