Djamilla (29) has been living with her little daughter (4) in a cozy two-bedroom house in Leeuwaren since 2019.
The street where she lives is busy and so is Djamilla’s home. Because Djamilla’s two tomcats are not standard cats. No, these two tough guys regularly turn the house upside down. But she was prepared for that. The shelter had warned her about the kittens’ temperament – they were the busiest from the litter.
So you adopted Pip and Pablo from the shelter?
Yes, when I went to live on my own I already knew I wanted cats. And so I went to the shelter in 2020, because there are lots of cats there waiting for a new owner. When I saw Pip and Pablo I was immediately sold. They were really the rascals of the litter. I thought a lot about it first, because I live on a busy street and wanted the cats to have enough space inside to play and run around. Fortunately that goes very well, but two busy cats in the house is really enough.
I often call my cats Pippie and Papi because it sounds so cute!
Furthermore, Pip is the toughest of the two. He is very playful and chases anything that moves. And he is a very picky eater – for example, he never eats leftovers from his kibble. Oh yes, and he also chatters a lot. Pablo is a real cuddler and a bit lazy. He likes to lie on my lap, in the hanging chair or in one of the hammocks of the scratching post. But he also has crazy moods. Then he chews on wiring or my daughter’s toys.
Who made up their names?
I drove to the shelter with my mother and stepfather to pick them up and actually thought of them there. I wanted to give them a tough name because that doesn’t fit their character. With the black male cat, I thought Pablo fit very well. And Pip fit the gray and white one very nicely. In practice I often call them Pippie and Papi, that sounds so nice!
And are they friends of each other?
Yes, I am fortunate that they are from the same litter and have been together from the beginning. So they like each other a lot. But – like real brothers – they can also tease each other sometimes. If that lasts too long I take them apart for a while. And after that it is good again immediately.
Can you describe a typical day with your cats?
When I get up, Pip already starts scratching at the living room door because he wants attention right away. When I open the door, I hear meowing coming from the scratching post, because that’s where Pablo often sleeps. And from then on it really is swan-clinging – they follow me everywhere. Very cozy! I replenish the cat food and then take my child to school. And then when I get back home, they immediately run to me and give heads against my legs. In the evening, when I put my daughter to bed and sit on the couch, they immediately crawl on my lap. And before I go to bed, I give them some attention and play with them for a while. My cats cheer me up when I’m not feeling well.
The last question again: why do you love (your) cats so much?
Djamilla’s cats are tough and active. So she decided to buy them a sturdy cat tree with a hammock. Because they can enjoy scratching and climbing in that. But then they can also sleep in it. Djamilla chose the Panorama 188 de Luxe in the color cappuccino. And she and the cats are still very happy with it every day!
A peek into the life of Annewieke’s Maine Coons
Disclaimer: Petrebels does not consist of veterinarians or behavioral experts: all content, information and tips on this blog are intended to inspire and inform you. Does your cat have complaints or problems and do you have doubts about your cat’s health? Then always go to the vet or a behavioral expert.
