Every week we search for interesting stories about cats and their owners. This week we ended up in Kampen, The Netherlands (NL). We spoke with Joan and Mike about their cats: Mickey and Nala. Both cats are British Shorthairs, chosen by the couple because of their cute appearance and personality traits.
Surprise!
When Mike had a birthday in 2020, Joan played a joke on him by giving him a box that she made him believe contained a cat. Instead, he got a fantastic surprise... namely the news that they would get one! Mike had always wanted a dog, but since they both worked full-time, that wasn't an option. He then suggested a cat, and after some research, they both fell in love with the British Shorthair because of their cute appearance. They joined a Facebook group dedicated to this breed, and after posting a call that they were looking for a kitten, several catteries contacted them. Nala was one of the first, and they immediately formed a bond with her. Shortly after, they received a photo of Mickey, and they couldn't resist adopting him, especially since the candidate who wanted him first had declined.
We realized that having 2 kittens is even better than one kitten
Social and curious
Mickey was the first they picked up because he was already 20 weeks old. He was immediately curious and his character matched what British Shorthairs are known for. The character traits of a British Shorthair:
- Quiet and calm; they are not overly active and usually like to relax at their leisure.
- Social; they enjoy company, both from their owner and other pets.
- Patient; the cats often have a lot of patience and do not get irritated easily.
- Independent; despite their social nature, British Shorthair cats are also very capable of entertaining themselves. They do not always need attention or interaction to be happy. As a result, they are easygoing and adapt well to different lifestyles.
Afraid and uneasy
Regardless of the breed's character traits, every cat naturally has its own unique personality. For example, due to their background and experiences. For Nala, it was different too ‘she was very scared, and we think she may have suffered trauma from staying in a cattery with more than 20 cats’ Joan explains. That has improved a lot by now, she shows her affection by, for example, sitting in front of them and asking for a pet. ‘Mickey loves cuddles and often comes to sit on our lap, Nala will never do that’ says Joan. Nala prefers to keep an overview from her Kilimandjaro cat tree.
Also read the following article
The cats in Villa Samson
17.03.2023
Every week we look for interesting stories about cats and their owners. This week we spoke with Milly, an employee of Villa Samson next to UZ Brussel. Villa Samson is a homely place where they promote healing through contact with animals. "With us, everyone is welcome to come and experience our beastly medicine: young, old, two-legged, four-legged, or on wheels," Milly says about the mission they stand for, bringing patient and animal a step closer together, because contact with animals works wonders both physically and mentally.
