Part 1: When everything turns out differently than planned

We would like to tell you something personal in this short series of articles. It's about our family and how it has changed. A little report from the sewing box. The report is a bit long... I realize that. Nevertheless, I would like to share my thoughts, concerns and fears with you.

A little back story

The last few months of the old year were very special for us. As many of you know, we had our foundling cat Alfred with us for many years, who didn't get on at all with Mogli, Nemo and Pixie. It wasn't as if we hadn't tried. No, we tried again and again... but after the last really brutal attack on Nemo, it was clear to me.

It will never work. Alfred doesn't tolerate other furry friends, but wants to be king on his own (which is understandable).

Sentences like «give him away», «find a new home for Alfred» were not so helpful, because for me an animal is not a traveling trophy, but a family member.

Alfred - Photo from Debora Spehar ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHY

And then I met a retired couple. The very first time I visited them, I found old souvenir photos of their previous cats all over the apartment. Somehow that gave me a «cozy» familiar feeling. About 3-4 months passed between my first and second visit. And during this time I kept thinking to myself... if I still have this feeling on my next visit, then I'll ask them about Alfred. And so it was when we visited them again in August 2025. I expressed my idea... and what can I say?

Our beloved Alfred was allowed to join them on a trial basis at the end of September and is now the sovereign there and our family has expanded, so to speak, with Bea and Roland ?

Then there were «only» two.

As our Mogli packed his bags far too early in 2021 at the tender age of 9 to go over the Rainbow Bridge, there were still four of us from September 25 with Nemo (13) and Pixie (11).

At the age of 12, Pixie is still very playful. Nemo has never been overly enthusiastic about her play attacks and has therefore always been the «spoilsport». That's why the idea came up that it might be cool for Pixie to have playmates, but at the same time be able to withdraw if it gets too much for her.

The decision.

So at the end of 2025 we decided to give 2 young cats a new home. Although we were skeptical about the whole thing, as we had been trying to socialize them with Alfred for years.

Personally, I am not a fan of breeding (uncontrolled «mating» of European domestic cats, simply because they are «cute») and breeding (controlled mating with a pedigree). There are so many homeless furry friends who are in need.

That's why I joined the animal welfare organization Cats Need Us applied for 2 kittens. Wow. A special step for me that I actually put off. It had been a long time since I had kittens. It felt like the «child planning» was done and you decide to start all over again (yes, yes... I don't have human children and maybe I can't judge it that way - but I could imagine it feels like that somehow).

Why kittens?

Why did we want to give Kitten a new home? Quite simply because after years of failed attempts with Alfred, we simply had the feeling that it would be easier with 2 young furry tigers. That's how I experienced Mogli and Nemo 12 years ago, how lovingly they took in Pixie (approx. 11 weeks old) as a neglected kitten when she was 2 years old.

I've rummaged through the archives a bit to show the photos from back then. When Pixie arrived, she was really neglected and unkempt (see first photo) - but so adorable... so much so that Mogli and Nemo took to the little girl sooooo well. But I have to admit, browsing through the old photos is still hard for me. Mogli was such a good soul... the time with him was wonderful and he is missed every day ?

So the application was out - and we were nervous. We quickly received the news that the two kittens we were interested in had already found a home. We were not disappointed, but simply happy that they had found a home.

And we don't have any stress.

And then everything turned out differently...

But there are still 2 female cats who are looking for a home. Their names given by the animal welfare organization are «Amy» and «Willow». Amy is almost 2 years old and has already had 2 operations on her right eye, as her eyelashes have grown into her eye, as well as suffering from herpes. Willow was found as a very small, emaciated - almost starved - kitten and was only a few months old. The two of them are together in a loving foster home in Lyss (BE).

While Willow was described as a more reserved and insecure cat, Amy was more of a go-getter, very affectionate and loving, with sometimes unpredictable «hau» fits. Oh well. As long as they would get along with our seniors, it doesn't matter to us whether the two females become cuddly or not.

It was clear to us - we would visit the two of them. And depending on how we felt, we would give it a try. So we booked a date for a day trip to the beautiful canton of Bern. Packed with 2 hairballs from Nemo and Pixie, we visited the two girls. My idea was that Amy and Willow could already get used to the smells of Pixie and Nemo - hence the hairballs.

And what can I say? Even Willow came to us quickly to give us a quick sniff. While Amy was already a bit more trusting and was already doing gymnastic exercises on us. We visited for about half an hour and then had enough time to think things over.

But yes. Actually, it was clear. We would like to give them both the chance of a new home. not deny. So we agreed to «live on trial». At Cats Need Us is that a control visit is made first. Fortunately! Because so often cats and dogs end up in households where they are not given a species-appropriate home. After the visit and the great conversations with this couple, who work for the animal welfare organization (and have also taken in animals from animal welfare themselves), we were officially allowed to register as an adoptive family for Amy and Willow.

Nevertheless, we were still skeptical as to whether this could really work with our seniors. Patricia and Barbara from Cats Need Us gave us some good tips as they already knew the characters of the two of them well. Contrary to everything I've already read, they said: «Leave Amy with the two seniors right from the start and give Willow some time and keep her in a separate room at the beginning».

So that's how we did it. Many years ago, we had an extra door made with an integrated grille so that Alfred & crew could always sniff and watch each other. We still have the door, of course. So it was perfect for the first night...

To be continued...