UNDER THE RADAR: This busker brings her cats along when she performs, and they’re stealing the show

Lorenzo told radar in an exclusive interview that she usually brings the pair because they are the most accustomed to loud environments and are more people-oriented than her other cats. She usually performs at Gateway, which is nearest to her home, but also busks at different SM malls.

Kiyo is a rescued cat from Tarlac, while Simba has been Lorenzo’s pet for a while now. She has six cats in all, including three rescues, and she and her partner are currently fostering two more.

She is also slowly training some of her other cats to get used to going out, although Kiyo and Simba remain the most comfortable in busy environments for now.

Lorenzo started busking about three years ago because she loves music and wanted to help sustain her graduate studies. Bringing her cats along eventually became part of the experience after she noticed how much they enjoyed going outside in their stroller.

“A huge portion of what I earn really goes back to them,” Lorenzo said, noting that taking care of pets and giving them a comfortable life can be expensive.

The cats don’t accompany her every time she performs. Lorenzo said Kiyo and Simba usually come out only around twice a week, out of the four to five days she spends busking. She also makes sure they have plenty of time to play and relax at home after going out.

Lorenzo is careful about how people interact with the cats, too. She has signage with reminders on how to pet them safely and keeps a close eye on mallgoers, especially children who may keep touching their sensitive tummies. Kiyo and Simba generally prefer being petted on the head and under the chin.

“Parang nanay lang din ako, ako pa rin ang nakakakilala sa body language ng mga anak ko,” she said. If she notices that the cats are stressed or uncomfortable, she said she simply won’t bring them outside.

The idea has also grown beyond Lorenzo’s own cats. She said fellow busker Alver, who has rescued dogs and helps local shelters, encouraged her to use music as another way to support fellow animal advocates and rescue animals.

And yes, the cats have had their share of comic moments. Before Lorenzo got the stroller, Kiyo once climbed into her tip box and simply sat there. Simba, meanwhile, sleeps so curled up that people sometimes mistake the large cat for a dog.

The duo recently gained even more attention when a video of Lorenzo singing Yeng Constantino’s “Chinito” at Gateway 1 Mall in Araneta City, Cubao, went viral on social media.

But whether they are sleeping through a song or posing for their next viral moment, Kiyo and Simba seem perfectly happy to let their human do the singing.

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