Animal Allies: Lorraine and Tallulah
Hello, I'm Lorraine and I’m the Head of Employer Brand at AXA UK and I’ve worked here for six and a half years. My animal ally is my Persian cat Tallulah (or Lu).
I have a lifelong love of Persian cats. I was a trustee of London Persian Rescue, based just down the road from our head office. And it was via the rescue that I came to be Tallulah’s ‘servant’. She’s 14 and a half years old and has had many of her nine lives! When she was only 9 months old, she was found dumped outside a veterinary practice, attached to the railings with tape.
She's lost an eye, survived the feline version of meningitis, and she’s also now deaf. But that doesn’t stop her being a diva in a fur coat! That said, she busts the myth about cats being stand-offish, as she’s the most adorable friendly feline and brings love to whoever she encounters.
What’s the best part of having a pet/animal ally for you?
During my time as a trustee of the charity I saw what a difference our cats made to people’s lives. For me the big thing is that they always love you, unconditionally. My cat senses my moods and comforts me if I’m sad. Her love for attention shifts my focus, so I forget whatever’s on my mind and fully embrace my role as a servant, beautician, and provider of chicken!
Does Tallulah impact your physical wellbeing?
Only if you count carrying heavy bags of kitty litter from the shop to the car and up the stairs!
And does Tallulah have an impact on your mental wellbeing?
She does. I think stroking a purring cat is one of the most calming and soothing things. If I’m tired or feeling sad it makes me feel better, and if I’m stressed and my mind is going at 100 miles an hour, it calms me down. I live alone and the fact that her little furry face is always so pleased to see me and be by my side fills my heart. She’s my little furry best friend, and I am hers. We’ve many things in common – long hair, short legs, a love of our own company and sunbathing when it’s hot. And when it’s wet, we enjoy our creature comforts (we're not big fans of the outdoors!). It's hard to be sad when there's a 'fluffalicious' in the house!
What are Tallulah’s quirks?
It has to be her love of water! She loves drinking it, playing with it, and being bathed. She asks to drink from the tap, sits in front of the hosepipe and she’s an expert at quickly finding and destroying any vase of flowers to get at the water. She also drinks from any glass or cup within her reach.
Aside from that, she likes to unplug all the wires from my Sky box every day! When it’s too hot, she likes to lie in my bath to cool herself down. And like a true diva, she hides in my handbag!
Are there any ways that you feel AXA supports your wellbeing?
I can work flexibly at AXA, and my 9-day fortnight allows me to spend more time with my 85-year-old mum, who needs support, and do things that make me happy outside of work. It also helps that AXA is filled with fabulous colleagues. I get to do meaningful work and develop my team. My mantra is "work hard, aim high, and give back," so it's important for me to help my team reach their full potential.
Would you recommend a career at AXA?
There are so many opportunities at AXA, whatever your lifestyle, life stage or background. I joined AXA in my 50s and progressed my career here – there’s no limit to what you can achieve if you work hard and share our values. I lead a fabulous team, collaborate with some amazing people, and spend my time with colleagues who’re not only skilled but also kind, funny and all round lovely human beings.
