Melissa raised cats Lazy and Proud herself with the bottle

Melissa loves her cats Proud and Lazy (and she got a beautiful tattoo)

Melissa bottle-raised her cats. They are both affectionate, yet very different in character. Lazy is a good-natured clown and Proud a feisty lady. And who is the cat on Melissa’s shoulder?

Melissa (29) lives with cat Proud, cat Lazy and dog Evie in a single-family home in Drenthe. A day at Melissa’s house is never boring. Even before the alarm clock rings, Proud is already meowing loudly. She is hungry. When Melissa goes downstairs, Proud is already waiting for her, together with cat Lazy. Because he is also hungry for some treats. French Bulldog Evie stays in her basket, because she doesn’t like all this early-morning fuss. And when Melissa comes home in the evening, Proud is already waiting. Ready for some treats, a cuddle or to play with her or Lazy.

What unusual names the cats have. How did you come up with them?

I got Proud when I was still living with my parents. We were then a foster home for cats. Proud came from a litter of four kittens that I raised by bottle. She had the hardest time of all – she was small and it was hard to feed her. At one point we were even afraid she wouldn’t make it. But eventually she got better and better. And we were so proud of that brave little creature that we named her Proud.

Lazy is named after a kitten we had previously fostered in our foster home. That kitten sadly passed away. Lazy came to us on exactly that day and he reminded me very much of that kitten – who was also called Lazy. That’s why I named him after that kitten.

You have a special bond with both your cats I think?

Yes, it certainly is. I’ve had the cats with me since they were three days old. And I bottle-raised them both. Proud is now eight years old and Lazy three, and I have a very strong bond with both cats. With Proud in particular – I am the only one allowed to lift, groom and cuddle her. From other people she doesn’t want to know anything at all. Not always convenient, but I also find it a bit flattering. Because by doing so, she indicates that she trusts me completely.

How would you describe your cats’ characters?

Lazy is playful, active and shy. He loves to cuddle and can act like a clown when he plays. He often makes crazy jumps that make me laugh terribly. And when he sees something exciting outside, he goes into a sulk. He then sounds like a baby goat.

Proud is sometimes playful, lazy and a feisty lady. She likes to let you know what she likes or dislikes, which I can greatly appreciate. She loves water and likes to go for a bath on a sunny day. She prefers to drink from the tap, but I am not so happy about that. So we compromised and bought her a drinking fountain. If it’s accidentally not on she’ll let me know right away, you know!

Your cats must be pretty spoiled, right?

I take very good care of them. First of all, because they mean a lot to me. They are a real support to me and I believe they didn’t just come to me. I think they deserve a good life and I do a lot for that. I moved into this house because it has a garden so I could make an outdoor enclosure there. There are scratching posts throughout the house, but they also have their own cat room. In there is everything they need and also another extra-large cat tree. Because I think they should have a place where they both have space to play, scratch and sleep.

Is that their favourite place in the house?

Proud and Lazy prefer to be in their cat room and outdoor enclosure. But they also like to do power naps with me on the sofa, as they love cuddling and attention. And very sometimes they sleep with me at night. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does I think it’s super cute, of course!

The last question: why do you love cats so much?

I find cats special a very fascinating. I think what we humans could learn a lot from them. But of course my cats are the cutest of all! I love them both equally, but because Proud was my first cat of my own and my bond with her is so special, I had her tattooed on my arm by Stacey Lichtendonk. I guess that shows how special they are to me.

Melissa has several scratching posts in her home. Her latest purchase is cat tree Lookout 198 in the colour pepper. She is happy with it because the scratching post is large and has enough space for both cats. In addition, it is stable, sturdy and she thinks its quality is top.