- People
- 06/10/2025
World Animal Day Special: the pets of the TU/e community
For many members of the TU/e community, Saturday revolved around dog treats, cat snacks, and other ways to spoil their furry (and not-so-furry) friends. After all, it was World Animal Day. Cursor asked TU/e students and staff to share photos and stories of their pets so others could enjoy them too.
Cat Petre
Student Diana Dumitrescu has several cats back home in Romania, and one of them is Petre. “His nickname is Petrică,” she says. What Diana loves most about Petre is his clingy personality. “He will oftentimes come and cuddle with me during the night or sit on my bathroom sink as I’m getting ready for the day.” In addition to cuddling, Petre also loves to play. “He often waits for us around corners, and then jumps and ‘bite’ our feet as we walk by him.”
Dog Tito
“Even if you are not a dog person, Tito will win you over,” says Chiara Tregalia about her Labrador. The Innovation Space staff member says that’s exactly what she loves most about her four-legged friend. “I love that he loves everyone and he will make anyone reciprocate his love.” Besides his overwhelming charm, Tito is also very well-trained — he even eats on command. “If we forget to give the release command we will find him in a pool of his own saliva, staring at his food. Excruciatingly cute.”
Cat Qurfa
Qurfa was once rescued from the streets of Bahrain and adopted in 2024 by Daniël Huisman, who works at LIS. “Fun fact: Qurfa is Arabic and it means cinnamon. I decided to keep that name instead of renaming him after adoption,” Huisman explains. Qurfa didn’t need much time to adjust to his new home. “From the first day he loved cuddling and being close to me. He’s my gentle ginger giant.”
Hedgehog Edward
Technically, he’s not a pet but a wild animal. “But we do enjoy its company,” saysRoos Verbakel, who just finished her board year at student e-sports association Zephyr. The hedgehog has been living in her backyard for two years now. “We named him Edward, but we don’t actually know if it’s a boy or a girl.” To make him comfortable, Roos built a small house for him out of straw and leaves. Besides providing some company, Edward’s presence is also practical. “He eats a lot of slugs, which is really useful for my vegetable patch.”
Cat Gato
The Persian cat of student Farnoosh Alizadeh currently lives many kilometers away from her. Like many international students, her pet stays with family in her home country — in her case, Iran. “I love everything about him. He’s my first pet, and he’s been with me through everything.” Gato came to Farnoosh and her family during the Zan, Zendegi, Azadi movement in Iran. “And not to make this dark, but a few months ago there was a literal war in my country. And he was honestly the bravest one among us. My little hero.”
Cat Joeffie
Cat Joeffie was adopted on World Animal Day thirteen years ago by student Mees van Woensel and his family. The best thing about Joeffie? He personally wakes Mees up every morning. The name ‘Joeffie’ may sound cute, but it carries a double meaning, Mees warns. “In Brabant calling someone a ‘joef’ means they are a bit of a crazy person,” he explains. Shortly after the family moved houses, Joeffie often returned to their old address. Because Mees and his family were on vacation, his grandmother kindly went looking for him. “So imagine my grandma calling ‘joeffie’ across our old parking lot.”
Dogs Flip and Boef
Student Anna Biezen has not one, but two dogs. Both live with her and her family in their home in the Netherlands. “The small Mongrel is called Flip, and the Labrador’s name is Boef.” Two dogs also means two very different personalities. “The Labrador is really silly, but does everything for food,” she says. And Flip? He’s the affectionate one. “He loves sleeping inside pillowcases too.”
Dog Mile
On World Animal Day (and on other days too), it’s not only current pets who are celebrated, but also those from the past. Student GuilhermeRatolla shared memories of his dog Mile, who passed away two years ago. “What I loved most was how much she enjoyed staying with us. She would always be with someone in the house, following us like a shadow,” he says. Guilherme still remembers many funny moments with Mile, but one stands out in particular — when she ate the sparkly Christmas decorations. “Her poop was sparkling a few days after that. We learned not to put Christmas decorations at the bottom of the tree.”
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