A house full of cat baskets, scratching posts and bins full of cat food. And don’t forget the 26 cats. “This is the Katshuisch, a home for disabled cats,” Arianne de Jong begins. She also lives there herself, but the main inhabitants are the cats. “I try to give them the best possible life.”
That costs thousands of euros per month and that’s why she makes a calendar with her cats and disabled people.
“Disabled cats also have the right to a beautiful life.”
Arianne is cuddling with Otto, a cat who was completely paralyzed. “He had a cramped attitude all the time, but he is doing a lot better. With Parkinson’s drugs that people get, we try to make him better. And that goes very well with Otto.”
With 26 disabled cats, Arianne is a regular at the vet. Something that takes a lot of paperwork. “I go to the vet once or twice a week. One month it is three thousand euros, the next month five thousand.” And then De Jong does not count the feed and the like.
To pay for all this, Arianne makes a calendar with disabled people and cats. Partly, as she puts it, to cover her bill. But she has an additional purpose with the calendar. “I think it’s important that people see that we don’t put disabled people to sleep and that disabled cats also have the right to a good life. Now we give sick cats an injection, while that is often not necessary.”
“The cats are the stars.”
An entire photo studio has been built in the Katshuisch. Arianne’s cats crawl and walk curiously between all the lamps and cables. “I try to choose as many handicaps as possible for the calendar. We have the Blind cat family here, Danny and Yvonne Blind, and then I will also have a blind man on the calendar.”
Then they take a picture together. For example, Hille from Eindhoven was photographed with Maaike. Both had a car accident and since that time they have to live with a disability.
Jannie van Nieuwkasteele feels like a model on Tuesday afternoon. “But it’s not about me, it’s about that beautiful cat I had on my lap. The cats are the stars.” After a phone call from Arianne, Jannie came from Spijkernissen to the Katshuisch in Vinkel. “I really do this for Arianne and her cats. Cats also need a nice life, a home and good care.”
“This is my favorite charity.”
The month of May has been claimed by Jannie. “That is Feyenoord’s championship month. That’s my month.” October is for autumn lovers Aunt Corien, Corien Nelissen’s nickname. “She is one of the main sponsors,” says Arianne. “She always brings bags full of food and toys.”
While Saskia, a cat with crooked legs, is lying on Corien’s lap, the first photos are taken. “This is my favorite charity. It’s such a shame that many people don’t know about this charity and just put their cat to sleep. Just go to the Katshuisch.”
Arianne now has to look for a printer who is willing to print the calendars for a good price. And then she hopes that the calendars can be sold in May or June.
