Four cats and an unshakeable friendship!
"I like doing it because you have friends"
“Dear Aiderbichl team, I am contacting you today about a very urgent matter! It’s about my best friend Sabina, or rather my best friend’s 4 tomcats!” began the email that reached us from the Upper Palatinate in April 2024. Simone, who had contacted us, was desperate and must have had tears in her eyes when she wrote these lines.
Sabina, a fun-loving and energetic woman, suffered a severe brain haemorrhage in November and was admitted to hospital. The doctors fought for her life, leaving her best friend Simone and her four cats behind. Naturally, Simone took responsibility for her best friend’s cats. But what Simone didn’t realise until then was that Sabina not only entrusted her with her beloved cats, but also gave her responsibility for her own life.
From then on, in addition to her job as a cook, Simone looked after the cats and her best friend every day. There was always hope and Simone refused to give up, continuing to fight for them all.
As heartbreaking and incomprehensible as it all is for me, I have to come to terms with not getting my friend back – as I knew her before,” Simone finally wrote in her email. The flat now had to be broken up and the cats needed a new home where they were safe, could stay together and receive the care they needed.
Deeply moved, we decided to help and got in touch with Simone. Marie, estate manager of Gut Aiderbichl Maria Schmolln, offered four places for Gismo, Zorro, Rocket and Groot and so we set off.
On site, we got an idea of the situation and got to know Simone and her protégés. She told us about her best friend and shared her great friendship with us. When asked how she felt about taking on such a responsibility, Simone simply said: “I’m happy to do it for Sabina, because that’s what friends are for”.
The 4-year-old tomcat Zorro was already so curious that he climbed into his transport basket all by himself. Persian cat Gismo had to be persuaded with treats to get into the transport basket.
Groot is curious, but still reserved. With strokes and calm, he was also captured. Rocket the cat lived up to his name. He was not so easily transplanted and kept running away. We would have loved to explain the “why” to him and answer all his questions, but how?
Together we finally managed to secure Rocket and take him to Gut Aiderbichl Maria Schmolln.
Impressed by Simone’s strength and grateful to be able to help here, we set off on the four-hour journey to Gut Aiderbichl Maria Schmolln. The four beautiful cats will be able to start a new life here.
