When Chili the cat comes to visit: A grande dame on velvet paws at the Freising Clinic

Created: 12/30/2022, 7:00 p.m

The very special "security boss" on night duty, the lucky cat Chili, can't shake anything in the hospital.

© Lorenz

The Freising lucky cat Chili comes to the Freising Clinic for regular night rounds almost every day.

She makes herself comfortable in the gate area.

Freising

- It wasn't as easy as the FT reporter initially imagined - namely to meet the grande dame of the Freising nights at her new workplace in the hospital.

After a few attempts, it worked just before the turn of the year with an interview attempt.

Her only statement for the new year was rather philosophical, with room for speculation - namely, simply "Meow!"

The interview finally works

Shortly before the turn of the year, it all worked out perfectly: A phone call to the Freising Clinic in the middle of the night confirmed that “Chili” was already sound asleep in her new favorite place and had therefore started her night shift.

And there she was lying blissfully when the reporter arrived - snoring on the security chair in front of the gatehouse, next to the sign with the very clear request "Please register here!"

(By the way: everything from the region is now also available in our regular Freising newsletter.)

The clinic as a second home

It is not entirely clear how long the cat has been coming to the Freising Clinic for nightly visits – but probably for several years, as Michaela Baier recalled from the reception.

"During the corona pandemic, she then came to the hospital more often," Baier continues.

How old Chili, who can be considered a lucky cat due to the color and pattern of her fur, actually is, can only be roughly estimated.

According to Heidi Heller, who happened to be at the reception at her workplace late in the evening, she saw the lucky cat Chili roaming around in this area about ten years ago.

Chili sometimes makes himself comfortable on the radiator.

© Lorenz

But one thing is very clear: Chili is not a stray, but probably has a permanent home, which can also be seen in her well-groomed appearance and good nutritional status.

However, the cat has apparently eaten a fool at the clinic and its employees and visits it almost every day.

Heller then explained exactly how this is done – but not without a smile on his lips.

"She then waits obediently in front of the automatic door until a patient or relative wants to come in and then slips in with them," said Heller, who is also a cat mom herself.

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Fancy a voyage of discovery?

My space

What is perhaps most fascinating about Chili is that the cat will never go further than the gate area without ever being taught to do so.

If it's very cold, the cat will immediately lie down on the heater in the anteroom, but currently it prefers the security staff's executive chair.

Chili shouldn't be allowed to walk any further, because for hygienic reasons animals are not allowed in the hospital area - the only exception are the two budgies in the palliative care ward.

"If she wants to get out in the morning, she hops onto the counter and slips through the narrow slit in the glass window," explained Heller.

Then everyone will know that Chili wants to go hiking again.

"Heart opener" for everyone who feels unwell

But how is the cat actually received by the patients?

"Many people ask us if that's the house cat from the clinic - because she's also totally trusting and lets everyone pet her," says Baier, for whom chili is also one thing, namely a "heart opener" for anyone who might just be a cat feel little uncomfortable or even scared on the way to the hospital.

"There's a reason she's with us," Baier is sure of that.

Chili didn't hear any of the praise, though - she continued to sleep soundly, even when the phone rang loudly.

The very special "security boss" on night duty can't shake anything.

Richard Lorenz