About Me

About Me — Jamie Naquin, LMT

Dog person turned cat daddy

Yes, that is a cat on a leash. Me standing guard for King Christmas the Cat at our Catdom Plaza aka Lafreniere Park, Louisiana. Photo by Queen Mother, A. Michaela Hamm

Hi, I’m Jamie. I’m a sports massage therapist in Louisiana, USA, and I’m in a relationship with A. Michaela Hamm. I’m definitely a dog person, but I currently serve as Paw and Protector to King, Christmas the Cat. But before I tell you how I became a cat dad, even though I’m definitely a dog person, let’s start with a few of the basics.

I was excited to move into my new office at the current location in Metairie, LA, USA

Work — I’m a licensed massage therapist (LMT) and founder of New Orleans Sports Massage, home of Therapeutic Muscle Sculpting and Muscular Realignment, providing the most intense bodywork in the Gulf South region. We primarily serve bodybuilders, dancers, ball players, teachers, nurses, lawyers, and others whose bodies need to be in top shape for peak performance whether in the ring, on the field, at the office, or on the playground with the kids. We also help people with chronic pain and injuries.

Here’s me at the old office (and before the rebrand) talking about muscle tension, but that’s boring right? You want to know about the cat! Or watch the video. It’ll only take only a minute. And don’t forget to subscribe if you’re still awake when it’s over! | New Orleans Sports Massage (formerly TMS Massage) on YouTube

Hobbies — I work out 5 days a week at Valhalla Training Grounds and follow a strict diet. I played volleyball in high school and for the year I lasted in college. I’m a huge (American) football fan, and my favorite team is LSU Tigers even though I went to Nicholls State.

That’s me taking a post-workout selfie at Valhalla Training Grounds in Harahan, LA, USA

TV and Movies — My favorite movie of all time is A Bronx Tale, followed by The God Father. I love mob movies, but I also like action, adventure, and fantasy. My favorite series that I have binged repeatedly is Last Kingdom on Netflix. (Yes, it’s better than GOT)!

The cat’s favorite movie is Peter Rabbit 2. It was actually pretty funny — the cat and the movie! Check out a short clip of the cat watching the movie. (Hopefully, that clip is more entertaining than the one about fascia).

Music — I’m a metalhead, loving everything from 80s hair metal to the most extreme death and black metal. I also listen to jazz, blues, classical, and old-school R&B. I grew up with two members of Acid Bath, and they will always be my all-time favorite band. Some of my other favorite bands include Goatwhore, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, King Diamond, and yes, Adele. For one of our first dates, Michaela took me to see Randy Jackson of Zebra on stage with the New Orleans Philharmonic Orchestra covering songs from The Doors, another one of my all-time favorite bands. (In case you’re wondering, the cat’s favorite song is She’s Gone by Steelheart).

Look at those love birds! Me and Michaela after her master’s piano recital in December 2014. This is back when she was a Princess, before she became Queen Mother to King Christmas. (Not sure which one of our relatives took this blurry photo).

Relationship* — Michaela and I met online (at plenty of fish) in early 2013. We met in person in May just before she went home for the summer on break from her master’s degree program in music. We continued to chat and see each other virtually and then spent more time together when she got back to New Orleans. We got our first place together a couple of years later after she graduated (because we were practically living together in my one-bedroom apartment and needed more space). We’ve had our ups and downs and discussed breaking up several times, but we’ve also gotten through some really tough life challenges — like closing the business during the early months of covid, evacuating for Hurricane Ida, reconciling with her estranged father, and losing loved ones. We thought we might adopt children in the future, but we changed our minds after the cat moved in.
*Shared with permission.

Our family is complete! Me with Queen Mother Michaela and King Christmas in December 2022

Indigenous and Cajun Roots — I am a descendant of 7 Chitamacha Chiefs, and I learned to appreciate and respect Mother Earth growing up. We caught or grew everything we ate, and no part of any animal or vegetable ever went to waste. I am also a descendant of many generations of Cajuns, so everything we ate was also extremely spicy — with spices cultivated in our own garden, of course. One of our traditions is that you get covered in the blood of your first kill, but I never liked hunting.

We made the most of our Ida hurrication and explored state parks in Alabama and Georgia. This is us at the top of the tallest Indian Burial Mound at Ocmulgee National Park in Macon, GA in August 2021

Religion and Spirituality— I grew up Catholic but am now exploring Native beliefs and spirituality.

I called out to the ancestors, and my spirit animal (an eagle) flew by overhead, but it was too fast to snap. Me at the top of the tallest Indian Burial Mound at Ocmulgee National Park in August 2021

Politics — I am not a fan of the two-party system. That’s all I’ll say about that for now.

Me holding an old photo of my paternal grandmother. I wear my Homeland Security shirt every year on Thanksgiving. The shirt features 5 Indian Chiefs and says “Fighting Terrorism Since 1492.”

Kids —Michaela has some nieces and nephews that we adore, but we don’t get to see them often. (They’re actually cousins but who cares)? She’s also really good with the kids on my side of the family, and I know she’d make a great mom. Since the cat came into our lives, however, we both agree our family is now complete!

One big happy family! Me with Queen Mother Michaela and King Christmas in December 2021

Cats or Dogs — I’m definitely a dog person, but somehow we ended up with a cat. Wait, who am kidding? What the Queen Mother wants, the Queen Mother gets. And what the King wants, the King gets. I bend the knee.

Jamie Naquin, LMT, Paw and Protector of The One True King, Christmas the Cat | Photo by A. Michaela Hamm

Thanks for reading! I’m on Instagram @jamie_naquin_lmt.

How I Became a Cat Dad as a Dog Person