Yvonne lives in the small village of Musselkanaal in Groningen with her husband, Jan (53), and their four cats—three British Shorthairs and one of an unknown mix. Each of the cats has carved a special place in the couple’s hearts and their home. With the love they receive and the funny antics the cats get up to, it’s always lively at their place.
Let’s start at the beginning: how and where did you meet your cats?
The backgrounds of the cats are as diverse as their characters. Luna (4) was a breeding cat from a cattery. But at a certain point, she was no longer needed, which could have led to a sad story. Jan and I didn’t hesitate; we took her home immediately and had her spayed. She deserves a life where she can just be a regular cat.
We bought Mistey (2) from an advertisement on Marktplaats as a female cat. Nothing matched the ad— the cat wasn’t vaccinated, and Mistey turned out to be a male cat, not a female! For us, it wasn’t a problem afterward because we had him neutered and provided him with everything he needed. And he turned into an incredibly sweet cat.
Your cats have such interesting names. Did you come up with them?
Yes, I came up with the cat names myself. All of them are based on things related to the weather—Luna means ‘moon,’ Mistey is derived from ‘mist,’ Sky means ‘sky,’ and Snowy is named after snow. I don’t have a particular reason for it, but I just thought it was fun this way.
Tell us about your cats’ personalities.
Luna is sociable, chatty, and enjoys a calm life. She likes to sleep in one of the hammocks on our new cat tree. Sky is a true lap cat and absolutely loves cuddles. But she’s not fond of visitors or people she doesn’t know well—she tends to avoid them. Snowy is still a little kitten but is already showing signs of becoming a real troublemaker. Mistey, however, is the biggest troublemaker of them all. He’s always up to mischief, excels at digging, and steals my husband’s tools—he loves to join my husband when he’s working on DIY projects. Mistey enjoys helping my husband with tasks and swiping his tools.
So, your cats are allowed outside?
We’ve specially enclosed our garden for our cats, which we find a safe idea. All the cats are allowed outside, but they need to ask for it. Since we don’t have a cat flap, we open the door for them. We prefer our cats to be inside at night. So when it’s time to go to bed, I call them for a treat. Luckily, they always come back home happily.
Don’t they find it bothersome to stay inside at night?
Not at all, our cats have a great time indoors! Before we go to bed, they all come to the bed to play and goof around; they really enjoy it. After that, they often head to their own room—it’s a playroom with a litter box, toys, and a play and climbing tree. But in our home, all doors are open, so they can go wherever they please.
What does a typical day with your cats look like at your home?
My husband and I are often home, so we spend a lot of time with the cats. When we’re away for a bit, all the cats come to greet us each time and let us know they’re happy we’re back. In the morning, they go outside, and I give Sky and Snowy some extra food—Sky because she needs to regain strength after giving birth, and Snowy so he can keep growing. Most of the morning is spent playing and running around, and in the afternoons, they’re often napping. They wake up when they hear the pots and pans in the kitchen, signaling that it’s dinner time. In the evenings, my husband and I sit on the couch with all four cats and play with them from time to time.
The last question already: what do you love about cats?
I grew up with cats—my neighbor used to have a Persian cat cattery, and I was often there. I always found and still find cats fantastic! They are unpredictable, clean, and bring so much love and coziness into the home. It was love at first sight with all of my cats, and I’m still crazy about them!
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Disclaimer: Petrebels is not a veterinarian or a behavior expert. All content, information, and tips on this blog are meant to inspire and are for informational purposes. If your cat has health issues or problems, and you’re unsure about your cat’s health, always consult a veterinarian or a behavior expert.
