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Doris
Kalus and the Cats of the Forest!
The
winter was in and the cold had gone through to the core. It
was almost dark. And, whilst waiting for friends to go jogging, I
noticed a woman at the edge of the forest. And, what
she was doing made me curious, and so I went over to see.
Her
name was Doris Kalus, and she was filling lots of small bowls
with food. And then, after just a few seconds, the cats came out of
the woods. Not just a few, but many!
And,
Doris Kalus explained. Each year, hundreds of cats run away from
their homes in Vienna, and for many the Vienna Woods become the
perfect new home. And there they are happy. But, not for long. For
then comes the winter; and it is then that hunger sets in.
And,
that's why Doris Kalus goes to the woods every day in the winter.
It's her way of helping the run-away cats. But, as the winters
continue, the number of cats arriving for supper becomes fewer and
fewer. The cold and the dangers are often too much, and many
run-away cats sadly perish.
And,
Doris continued. She used to have a cat, and he ran away, too.
But, that was a long time ago. And, feeding the run-away cats is
her way of remembering him. And, by helping the run-away cats to
survive, one or two may even find their way home in the
spring. And, Doris used to dream of her little cat coming home. But
sadly, he stayed out in the cold. And, in those days there was no
one to help. And, that's why Doris is special.
The winters are cold, but she is there every day.
.
The winters are cold, but she is there every day.
.
Vocabulary
core
– Kern
curious
– neugierig
edge
– Rand
for
(because) – weil
forest
(woods) – Wald
lots
of – (many/much) – viel/e
perish
– sterben
sets
in (begins) - einsetzen
survive
(survive/survived/survived) – überleben
woods
(forest) – Wald
Questions
What time of year did this story take place?
Where did this story take place?
What was Doris Kalus doing?
Why was Doris Kalus filling lots of small bowls with food?
Why do cats run away from home?
Why do cats like the Vienna Woods?
What happened to Doris's cat?
Have you got a cat?
