Senior woman fears she will soon no longer be able to afford her cats
Created: 11/27/2022, 08:00
Relatives do not come to visit: Christa Hoeren (70) does not feel alone thanks to the company of her cats Gina and Sammy.
The elderly woman saves the food for the two from her mouth.
© Thomas Plettenberg
Christa Hoeren always worked.
As a cleaning lady, saleswoman and waitress.
For a long time, she supplemented the small pension that she receives with part-time jobs – until arthrosis made that impossible.
Now she fears that high energy and food costs mean she can no longer afford what she loves most: her two cats.
Holzkirchen – A long scar stretches across Christa Hoeren's stomach.
It is reminiscent of the small intestine tear that almost killed the 70-year-old in March 2021.
The consequences were nine operations and nine weeks in the hospital.
During this time, an acquaintance took care of Hoeren's cats Gina (6) and Sammy (5).
He made videos of the two, which he sent her to the hospital.
"Those were my bright spots," remembers the trained geriatric nurse and housekeeper.
"Without my cats I would not have survived this difficult time."
But the animals cost money.
Health insurance alone costs 22 euros per month and cat.
Hoeren completed it after Sammy the cat had to be hospitalized for a blocked urethra.
Since then, Sammy has needed expensive diet food to prevent urinary stones from forming again.
Gina needs a hypoallergenic food because of an intestinal disease.
The pack of six costs almost nine euros.
A lot of money for the pensioner who receives basic security in old age since she is in need of care and can no longer supplement her pension with jobs.
She saves the cat food from her mouth: "I only eat once a day so that I can afford it." The 70-year-old is grateful for the support of the "Holzkirchen hilft" association, which financed a stove for her - a purchase , for which their budget was not enough.
heat your home?
"I prefer to put on a jacket," says Hoeren.
Your electricity bill has already increased from 43 euros a month to 53 euros.
The state does not bear these costs, which is why she is hoping for support from the fundraising campaign.
Hoeren knows how she could save even more: "I would have to give away my cats," she says quietly, adding: "But I can't do that.
They are my life.” Sammy and Gina keep her company when the morning nurse is gone and the silence in the apartment is oppressive.
Relatives do not visit her: At the age of nine, Hoeren came to live with her grandmother.
"My mother didn't want me.
I disturbed her second marriage," says Hoeren.
She doesn't remember the time before that.
Something must have happened that was so bad that she still suppresses it to this day.
At least that's how the psychologist who accompanied Hoeren during a stay in the clinic interpreted it.
The senior citizen is by no means withdrawing.
She likes to visit the Anthojo Lounge, a contact point for people with mental illness.
Every day she goes for a walk with her walker.
She often meets children who she used to take care of in the midday care of the Holzkirchner elementary school until a few years ago - one of her part-time jobs.
"I really miss this job," says Hoeren.
"I always really enjoyed her." She carefully keeps all the pictures that the children drew for her.
Also a card from the head of the lunchtime care: “Thank you very much for your unpaid work when there is a fire again”, it says.
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