Cat Strizi
From stray to part of our family
On a rainy October day last year, a white and grey tomcat was discovered at the visitors' car park in Henndorf. He pretended to be friendly with people and was looking for contact. The days went by, the weather was sunny one day, rainy and cold the next. The little cat crept secretly into the gate house more and more often, hoping for food and warmth. Where Strizi came from, we will probably never know. The fact was that the tomcat was probably not lost on anyone. When it was cold, Strizi sought shelter with our gatekeeper Tanja more and more often.
New home in the visitors' hall
Strizi was taken to the vet in a cat box to be checked for any parasites or diseases. Strizi also had to be neutered. With his body language he signalled where he wanted to find his home: at Gut Aiderbichl, and please, as a free runner. The rescued cats from Gut Aiderbichl live protected in the cat living rooms with an enclosure next to them. Strizi was very drawn to the Great Hall in Henndorf, because his freedom is important to him.
The Great Hall is huge and offers cosy retreats. Pauli, a free-roaming cat, has lived here for several years.
"I was abandoned with other kittens at a lake in Salzburg years ago. A dog tracked us down, and his owners brought us to Gut Aiderbichl Henndorf. Since then I have lived here in the Great Hall and am the boss on four paws. I have about five cat beds, because a tomcat needs variety after all. When I sleep in the middle of the shop among the fluffy doggies and cats, some visitors mistake me for a stuffed animal. Well, to be honest - I live very well here. In the morning, I get my breakfast from at least three people. They try to keep me slim. I then meow until I could soften a human heart to give me a second helping. I am the boss here."
Strizi and Pauli
Pauli the cat has had his kingdom in the hall for years and now a frightened new cat Strizi came and tried to become his friend. At the beginning, they hissed and sprinted through the hall until Strizi and Pauli rested tiredly at the other end of the hall, but always kept a close eye on each other.
"Pauli should notice that I didn't want to dispute anything with him. For a few weeks now, he no longer makes a cat hump when he sees me. Sometimes we lie in the sun in front of the entrance, but at a distance. It'll be alright!
Strizi accepts Pauli as the higher rank, and so peace comes to the Great Hall. In any case, in the morning the two sit next to each other at a smaller and smaller distance and meow after breakfast. Sometimes everything just takes a little longer - no matter if human or animal.
