Today we’d like to introduce you to several very special members of our family: Eddie and Uschl, two cats who came to us last summer.
At the time, we had just gone through a difficult period. Two of our three cats had passed away due to old age, leaving only Leonie, who lives in the upper part of the finca near the main house. Then, almost as if on cue, a good friend told us about a litter of five kittens. The timing felt right.
When we saw the photos, we immediately fell in love — especially with the two red siblings. Soon afterwards, our friend brought them to us. We named the red male Eddie and his red-and-white fluffy sibling Uschi. For weeks, our lives revolved around these delightful new arrivals. They settled in quickly, exploring their surroundings a little further each day and winning our hearts without effort.
Then a small doubt crept in: Were they truly brother and sister — or two brothers? The vet soon confirmed our suspicion: both were male. Changing names never crossed our minds. Instead, Uschi simply became Uschl (or Uschel). It suited him perfectly.
Eddie, with his short red coat, is the agile one — athletic, curious, and people-oriented. He comes when called, escorts friends to the gate when they leave, and returns to greet them when they arrive. Uschl, by contrast, has grown into a magnificent long-haired cat with a bushy, squirrel-like tail. He is thoughtful and observant, yet just as devoted to his brother. The two are rarely far apart.
We watched with delight as they climbed their first tree — an avocado tree on our terrace. Eddie led the ascent; Uschl followed close behind. They played, wrestled, and chased anything that moved. Afterwards, exhausted, they would fall asleep curled tightly together.
Step by step, they expanded their territory, exploring the finca at their own pace. They took their first ventures into new areas alongside us. One day they accompanied us to the stream, hopping curiously from stone to stone before stopping to drink the cool water.
They have since befriended our dog, Lotta. Eddie, in particular, likes to follow her on her excursions — which occasionally demands courage. When Lotta bounds across the stream, Eddie carefully searches for his own crossing and finds it, even if it means wet paws and belly. They have also formed a friendship with Rubio, the slightly older neighbour’s cat, who enjoys spending time with us.
Our vegetable harvest often rests on a large wooden table on the terrace — tomatoes, potatoes, fennel, beetroot, zucchini, and cucumbers. Naturally, this display sparked their curiosity. As soon as they were strong enough to jump onto the table, Eddie discovered an unexpected passion: cucumbers. He carefully selects the small, tender ones and eats them with great enthusiasm. Now that our own harvest has ended, we buy cucumbers especially for him — he simply cannot do without them.
At first, Uschl showed no interest in this food. But after watching his brother enjoy them day after day, he decided to try them as well. After all, he has always liked following Eddie’s lead. And yes — he now enjoys cucumbers, too.
Eddie and Uschl also love going on walks with Jutta and Lotta. Uschl prefers a slower pace, so the others often wait for him. Rubio — who has since moved in permanently after his owner relocated — sometimes joins these outings as well.
Eddie thrives outdoors and often stays close to Lotta. He has proven himself to be an accomplished hunter, though he keeps his spoils to himself. Even so, he always returns to Uschl for cuddles — and when the two curl up together, it becomes almost impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins.