“One cat won’t fix all of your problems.
But three might.
Or they might just cause enough problems for you to forget all about your old problems.
So get four.”
– Unknown
Years ago, when we had to put our first rescue cat in the UAE down, we were heartbroken. When Michael, not long after, came home one day telling me about this gorgeous black kitten at work, I laughingly told him that the Universe clearly abhors a vacuum. That little kitten was christened Midnight, and soon found her way into our hearts and home. Life can be full of delightful twists and turns, and after Michael brought Midnight and Lily to Portugal in February 2021, he felt their absence so intensely that he decided to give fostering a chance.
It didn’t take long for him to realise that he wasn’t cut out to be a foster dad, which is how Minnie found her permanent home.
Kuro followed shortly after. They luckily get on well, perhaps because they each only have one eye.
Vacuum filled. Or so one would think, but clearly Midnight, Lily and I left such a vacuum in Michael’s life that the Universe had the last laugh.
Kaneki’s story was heartbreaking, and although Michael was initially only involved by making financial contributions, it eventually turned into fostering, and of course a permanent home. Not only did they realise that Kaneki was deaf shortly after her rescue, but after her leg that was broken when she got run over was initially saved through an operation, it never healed the way it was supposed to. Once the decision was made to amputate her leg, she started doing much better, and she simply adores Michael, sleeping snug against him every night.
All three were rescued from the port area in Abu Dhabi, which seems to be a popular dumping ground for unwanted animals. Life on the street is tough, yet it is impossible to rescue each and every stray cat. Mostly the groups involved follow a trap, neuter and release protocol, and only rescue severe cases that won’t make it otherwise.
Tigger, the latest addition to the bunch, like Midnight, comes from Michael’s workplace. He, and a couple of other good Samaritans have been (and still are) feeding the strays in the area, including a mother and her kittens. When one of these went missing, he went looking for him. Eventually finding him under a bush with a broken leg. Of course he was taken to the vet, and needless to say, he is one lucky kitten driving everyone in the apartment crazy with his playful energy. As the runt of the litter his chances of a long life on the street was certainly not guaranteed.
Notes:
# December has been a cold dry month, and although the daytime temperatures weren’t too bad, the nighttime temperatures often dropped below zero.
# With only 5 mm of rain for the month the sharka is still empty, and I am starting to get slightly concerned.
# During Michael’s two week visit we managed to relax as well, instead of working against time the way we usually do. The shelving he ordered came just before he left, which meant a flurry of activity, but we managed to get it built and clear most of the workshop floor.
A Portuguese Expression:
Estar com os azeites – literally ‘to be with the olive oils’ is used to describe someone who is in a bad mood
Written by: Jolandi
Wishing everyone a joyful and prosperous 2025
Fortunately, your quinta is probably large enough to accomodate all these feline family members when Michael eventually retires! Down-on-their-luck cats are irresistable to a cat-lover, I know. My elder daughter, her husband and cat came to stay with us this Christmas which made our celebrations much happier than they might have been without them. May I wish you, Michael and the cats a very happy, healthy and successful 2025. I also hope you get some rain eventually – though not too much all in one go! Xx
I’m glad to hear that you had some lovely cat-energy with you over Christmas, Clare. They do bring a lot of joy.
Thank you for your lovely wishes. I hope 2025 will be a healthy and joyous year for you and your family too.
We have rain predicted from Sunday, so fingers crossed. – Jolandi
That is going to be quite the menagerie when Michael is able to move to Portugal permanently.
A very happy 2025 to you and yours Jolandi.
It will indeed be, Gwen. 😁 A very happy 2025 to you and yours as well. – Jolandi
All the best wishes for you and Michael. May it be a beautifull, loving, joyfull year!!
We also decided to made the jump and from the half/end of may we will be living in rural france.
😁 no cats yet but you never know!
Love karin
Thank you, Karin. A very happy and gorgeous new year to you too. What an exciting adventure for you. You must be thrilled for this new phase in your lives. Wishing you all the best for the packing up and tying of loose ends. – Jolandi
This is the best holiday update I’ve read! I love meeting the gang and all their rescue stories. My friend Chris has about 7 rescue cats, maybe 9, who can keep track? And my friend Barry (back in Thailand) has something like 30 dogs. Insanity, right?
This Christmas we decided to get a fish tank started again. It’s been great to have a bit of nature in our living room to add to our crazy plant collection. Happy New Year, Jolandi! xo
Thank you, Lani.
I love that you know more people who do all these crazy adoptions. If I don’t stop Michael we will definitely lose count, as he has a very small and kind heart. Definitely insane, thank goodness for kind people like that.
I love that you added a fish tank. That must be so soothing watching the fish swim around. Anything to bring a bit of nature in one’s living space is good for the mind and soul, isn’t it?
Oh, so by the way, I am excited about your memoir installments. I enjoyed the first one a lot and am looking forward to the next. Wishing you a great 2025. – Jolandi
I love the fact that both you and Michael are cat people. How nice of him to adopt four more cats in Abu Dhabi. I grew up having cats, but it’s been far too long since I had my own cat. When my mom was still around, she took care of a white cat that I always looked forward to seeing every time I came back to my hometown. But he died just a few days after my mom passed away. By the way, I find it amusing that being with olive oil is associated with a bad mood in Portuguese. At least for me olive oil always means good food. Happy New Year, Jolandi! May 2025 be filled with a lot of joy and less bureaucracy!
How fascinating about the white cat your mom used to feed, Bama. Cats are wonderful companions, but adopting one is also a long-term commitment, which is not always suitable for a chosen lifestyle.
I also find the expression quite interesting, as like you I would not have associated it with a bad mood, especially as olive oil is valued so much here, apart of course from the fact that it is delicious.
Fingers crossed that your wish of less bureaucracy for us comes true. Or at least if not less, as I’m not sure we will ever have less, that at least it will be smooth sailing through the bureaucratic processes! – Jolandi