Peace reigns in the woodland cemetery of Münsingen, Germany. The trees stand like silent witnesses among the graves. When Richard T. comes here in the morning, he is usually alone with his thoughts. He makes his way to his wife's grave.
But on this particular morning, he feels he is being watched. He is not alone. Someone is following him, silent and persistent, walking exactly in his footsteps.
The shadow in the snow
The one following this man in the snow means him no harm. Quite the opposite. This is not a threatening pursuit, but one of pure empathy.
As soon as the widower stops at his wife's final resting place, the 'pursuer' is there. It's Jerry. A cat who seems to know exactly when he is needed. "Every morning, Jerry walks behind me. When there's a lot of snow, it's quite funny how he follows my tracks," Richard T. explained in an interview with the SWR.
By the grave, the animal simply sits down beside him. The little creature waits patiently, purring to break the silence. Jerry stays until the widower leaves. It's a moment that sends shivers down your spine, not from fear, but from emotion.
The forest's new guardians
Jerry and his brother Tom are no ordinary stray cats. Their presence in the woodland cemetery is the result of a carefully considered plan, almost an experiment. Originally, these little felines belonged to the widower's daughter. When she moved away, Richard T. had a brilliant idea: to settle the little animals in the forest.
But the plan was risky. The forester, Martin Sch., had his doubts. Could you simply place domestic cats in a forest cabin? Wouldn't they just run away? For four weeks, they were kept inside the cabin, cared for by a group of volunteers.
The experiment was a success. Tom and Jerry stayed. Better still, they took on a mission that no human could ever fulfil. Officially, they are considered 'apprentice foresters'. In reality, they are four-legged confidants.
Jerry, in particular, seems to have a sixth sense for broken hearts. He accompanies families during funeral services and climbs onto the laps of grieving people on the cabin's terrace. He doesn't judge; he simply offers comfort. For Richard T. and many other mourners, the two cats are much more than just animals. They are proof that even in the saddest places in the world, you are never truly alone.
