Pet Name: Zöe

Pet Owner & CHS Position: Kate Feilmeier, Outreach Advocate at Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety

Short bio/adoption story: My husband, Shaun, and I went to the Brookings Humane Society in August 2009, to play with the kittens. Zöe, then called Wednesday from a litter named after the seven days of the week, was playfully jumping around her kennel. She reached through the bars and grabbed the string on Shaun’s hoodie. Shaun and I spent hours playing with Zöe and decided she was meant to be ours. We brought her home, a bit nervous of how our cat Freond would react since he was so big. Freond was very gentle. Zöe hissed and jumped at him. From that moment on they were best friends and Zöe was in charge.

Age: 15 years

Breed: Russian Blue

Favorite food: Anything vegan. She doesn’t like anything cats typically enjoy such as fish, meats, milk, etc. She loves vegan cheese, vegan versions of anything.

Favorite nap spot: Right next to my pillow at night and middle of the bed all day. Under the Christmas tree when it is up is her absolute favorite!

Favorite toy: Strings! When she was little, she would play with herself in the mirror for hours at a time. 😊

Favorite activity: Naps and belly rubs.

Naughtiest habit: Eating Dad’s plants, drinking Mom’s water, and, of course, harassing the dogs! We have two dogs, a lab named Freya and a bichon-shih tzu named Winnie. Freya is scared of the cat and has never once tried to bother her. Winnie is mostly scared but sometimes curious—sometimes the two play but immediately stop if we see them. Well, Zöe has her fun by blocking the dogs. She will sit at the top of the stairs or in a doorway so the dogs can’t pass her or sit by the water dish when they want a drink. The dogs come get us to make her move or whine if they are trapped. Little stinker!

Biggest pet peeve: The camera.

Funniest memory with your pet: One night we heard the piano start playing from our room and the entire family was sitting together. The kids all looked at us terrified and insisted there was a ghost. This happened several times, and we never found anyone in the room. Until I caught Zöe playing the piano one day and finally solved the mystery. My kids still think there was a ghost. Zöe always enjoyed when I would play piano, so must have decided to give it a try herself.

What are some of your pet’s nicknames? Zöe-a-tron, ZöZö, Zöes

The hardest part of having fur family: Freond crossed Rainbow Bridge in 2013 and Zöe has never liked another cat since. Today, May 23, 2024, Zöe is crossing Rainbow Bridge after a long battle with some autoimmune diseases. She will get to be with her friend again and be pain free. We enjoyed all 15 years of her life together and she was simply the best cat. This is the hardest part of having fur babies, but very much worth it. ❤ RIP Zöe-a-tron