​Smelly, but very cute. That was Sophie and Illona's first impression when they captured Papel, a cat found alone in Vila Velha de Rodão, in the Castelo Branco district, on December 16. The feline was in such bad shape that he was walking along the road with no idea that he could be hit at any moment. When they saw him, the two Dutch women turned the car around and decided to change his life.
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“We named it Papel because it smelled very bad and we noticed that the paper fabric in Vila Velha de Ródão also smells bad,” Sophie explains to PiT. ”For us Dutch, the name Papel also sounds very nice and apart from being smelly, it was very cute.”
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The couple moved to Portugal in 2023, along with 41 other animals (most of them rescued), after falling in love with a plot of land in Castelo Branco. It is through the project they created in the Netherlands, Fair Life Ranch, that they offer a better life to the animals that cross their path on Portuguese soil. And Papel was one of them.
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When they arrived home, Sophie and Illona prepared a box for the feline and took him to a veterinary clinic, where he was given pills against worms, fleas and more. “We also made an appointment for a health check-up and to see if it had a microchip or was missing. But it was clear that he didn't have a chip,” shares Illona.
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It was later revealed that Papel had tested positive for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), a disease popularly known as cat AIDS and contagious through blood contact. Because of this, the couple have avoided direct contact between the feline and their two other cats, Bonnie and Clyde. Even so, nothing stopped them from welcoming their new “bro” with great affection (at least in feline language).
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“Bonnie put a dead mouse in front of his cage as if she had given him a welcome present,” the couple told PiT. “The dogs are also kind to him and feel comfortable letting him crawl into their baskets.”
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Photo: Going to the vet for the first time.
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Since the diagnosis, Sophie and Illona have built a “nice space” out of a large cage they used to transport their other cats when they moved to Portugal. “He gets locked up at night or when we're not around to watch him and the other cats,” they explain.
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Although he has gained some weight and is a little better, the cat still sleeps a lot and is currently receiving medication to boost his weak immune system. “It remains to be seen whether they will be enough,” they point out. “He goes to the vet regularly for check-ups”.
When he is stronger, he will undergo surgery to remove his teeth and will also be neutered. “His teeth are very bad and sore because of the inflammation caused by the FIV. We hope he'll get stronger and stronger after that.”
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Despite all the problems, the cat is very sweet and loves affection. During the day, he spends several hours with his new guardians on the terrace. “He gets very tired and sometimes sleeps all day in the basket, which we then put out in the sun for him. He loves it,” she shares. “He spends most of the day with us and twice a day he goes for a short walk next to us. At the moment, he sleeps a lot and hopefully that will change.”
As well as the newest member of the family, the couple have dozens of other rescued animals and it's not always easy to look after them all. “We want to give them the best life possible. Food, accommodation and medical care are very expensive. We use all the support we receive to continue improving their lives.”
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To help rehabilitate Papel and the other animals, including dogs, cats, sheep, pigs, etc., you can send financial support to Ilona Bos' IBAN (PT50 0007 0000 0061 2653 9412 3). In the description, you can indicate whether the support is for the cat or for other animals in general. You can find out more about the project on the Fair Life Ranch website.
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​Photo: Papel enjoys the sun.
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