In the beautiful city of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, near the Oosterplas, Simone lives in an attached bungalow, surrounded by greenery. She lives there with her husband Bas, daughters Jolé, Lina, and Milou, Bull Terrier Roxy, and the two mischievous cats, Otis and Charlie. The house has a wonderful enclosed garden where the two cats also enjoy themselves!
That sounds like a lively household! Can you tell us more about it?
It’s never boring here, I can assure you! My three daughters always keep things lively, just like our dog and two cats. They are truly part of my family. They bring so much joy and comfort that I cannot imagine a life without them.
You once had four cats. Now only two. How did that happen?
My first two cats were Lillie and Luna. I was determined to adopt cats from an animal shelter because so many are born there. I told the shelter that I wanted two kittens, and the lady on the phone told me she had exactly two left. Several people had already come to see them, but they didn’t find them attractive. It was so strange because I saw two super sweet cat girls there and immediately thought, ‘They are for me!’
It’s still very difficult for me to say that I have two cats. Because in my heart, there are still four.
I had Luna and Lillie with me for 11 years, but I had to put them to sleep not long ago, with a heavy heart. Ten weeks ago, the vet discovered that Luna had colon cancer. There was nothing more to be done, so I had to make the heavy decision to put her to sleep. And as if that wasn’t sad enough, six weeks ago, I discovered that something was wrong with Lillie – she had been limping for a while and turned out to have an aggressive form of bone cancer with metastases to her lungs. Because it was incurable and very painful for Lillie, I had to let her go quickly as well.
Wow, that’s intense. How are you doing now?
It’s still very difficult for me to say out loud that I have two cats. Because in my heart, there are still four, and I love them all. My cats are everything to me. And Luna was a bit extra special. I can’t explain it well in words, but I always said about her: ‘She is my soul.’ That’s how it felt. It still hurts every day that Luna and Lillie are no longer here.
How do you look back on Luna and Lillie?
I remember them with a lot of love. Luna was a real chatterbox and always ‘The Queen’ of the house. She had the say and would give a swat if something didn’t please her. And Lillie was sweet, calm, and gentle. She was occasionally teased by Charlie and Otis. I miss them terribly.
And how are Otis and Charlie doing now?
Fortunately, they are doing well! They are now two years old and truly two brothers who can’t do without each other. Oriental Shorthairs – because that’s what they are – are sometimes called ‘stacking cats,’ and they really are. These two often lie on top of each other sleeping, preferably in the hammock of their cat tree. They also bring a lot of joy to the house because they not only play all sorts of crazy tricks but are also always close to me. They are really mega cuddly!
When I’m tired or a bit sad, they always come and lie down with me and cuddle. Having two Oriental Shorthairs is really a childhood dream come true for me. As a girl, I watched the movie ‘Lady and the Tramp,’ and in it, two Siamese cats have a supporting role. And then I knew: I want such cats later. We found Otis and Charlie from a reputable breeder of Oriental Shorthairs. And I am very happy with them every day!
What does a day in your life with these two rascals look like?
My cats have their own cat room with everything they need, including their Petrebels scratching post: the Lookout 198. When I bought the scratching post, I still had Luna and Lillie, so I was looking for a large and tall scratching post with enough space for all four of my cats. This scratching post was also very suitable for Lillie because she was a bit on the chubby side and couldn’t jump very well. The Lookout has many platforms, allowing Lillie to comfortably rest on the top.
The cats sleep in that cat room every night when we go to bed. In the morning, I immediately open the door when we wake up. And that’s fun because they are so happy to see me and my family again. I am a homemaker, so I am often at home. The cats find that very cozy because they are almost always near me. And they make me laugh every day – whether they are playing clumsily with their toys or loudly chattering at the birds in the garden.
The last question already: why do you love cats so much?
Once you let a cat into your heart, it never leaves. I grew up with animals and cannot imagine life without them. I love all my cats and am still heartbroken by the loss of Lillie. And Luna, in particular – she was my buddy, my shadow, and my everything. But luckily, my family, the dog, and the cats cheer me up every day!
Simone bought the Lookout 198 scratching post in off white for her four cats because she was looking for a large scratching post with good steps for the less mobile Lillie. And the scratching post also had to be sturdy because Oriental Shorthairs Otis and Charlie are real rascals. Simone is still happy with her purchase every day and finds the quality of this scratching post much better than all the previous ones she had.
