Introducing the Next Aldi Reviewer Cat
Back in early September 2024, we mournfully announced the passing of our beloved cat, Hildegard. Hildegard — we called her Hilde — lived to be 18 1/2 years old, and not only did she become an integral part of our family, but she also became a core part of our Aldi Reviewer writing, whether it was shadowing Aldi robot vacuums, testing Aldi cat treats, or sitting in Aldi cat furniture. It was for that reason that we here called her the Aldi Reviewer Cat.
As any devoted pet owner will tell you, you can’t replace a pet, not really. But you can find a way to bring light to another pet who needs a loving home.
Not long after Hilde’s passing, we decided it was time to do just that. Our consensus was that it would be great to adopt an older cat, one that might not otherwise be as easily adoptable.
We took notice of one such cat at our local adoption shelter. We met her, visited with her, and unanimously decided to bring her home.
Meet Beatrice. We call her Bea.
Beatrice was born in June of 2017, making her a little over 7 years old at the time of adoption. She was, we were told, surrendered to the shelter by owners who had two dogs that frightened the cat.
She came to us overweight, with some dental needs, and with a lot of shedding. Yet we were struck by how affectionate and friendly she was at the shelter, and we believed she would be a good fit for our quiet family. We’re working with our vet on her weight and teeth, and the extreme shedding resolved after a few good brushing sessions, which Bea loved.
We spent the first week slowly introducing Bea to our home, and with each passing day she has gotten more and more comfortable. She has proven just as affectionate at home as she was in the shelter, and she loves spending time near the family, whether it’s as a lap cat or just sitting nearby.
And, yes, she’s already started to toe into our writing world, including as a writing lap cat.
And, of course, she — like Hilde before her — also has discovered Aldi boxes.
She even approved of our purchase of some black cat ceramic plates from Aldi the other week.
Bea, then, has taken up the mantle as our next Aldi Reviewer Cat. We’re sure she’ll have a lot more to show our readers in the years to come.
Awww, I’m so glad you adopted a black kitty. They are usually the least likely to be adopted because they don’t have any “unique markings.” I also love fat cats! LOL
I know you’ll provide her with a lot of love and a happy home.
Ditto what Alex wrote!
Congratulations on the new family member. Voids are the best, enjoy the many years ahead together.
She is beautiful – and looks very happy to find her new forever home.
She’s a working cat! Congratulations and best wishes on Bea’s joining your family!
She really is! Thank you!
She is a beauty and a very lucky girl!! Thank you for adopting an older kitty, she looks like she as settled in nicely and she looks so soft!! Cathy and 5 cats. One is black as well!!
I’m involved in rescue (cats) and currently fostering 5 and have 3 of my own so I know there are so many in need of loving homes… Thank you for adopting Bea and giving her that LOVING home, that I pray, all will eventually find.. Best Wishes!
Awww, so glad you decided to adopt a less adoptable black kitty and give her a forever home! She is beautiful! Lots of fun times ahead with her. She looks like she’s comfy already!
I love black cats. Bea is so cute. You will love her more and more every day. My black cat was so affectionate too. Black cats get a bad rap. People are afraid they mean bad luck. It’s the other way around.
Love, I am 72. All the pets ( cats and dogs) have been from the shelter. I hope that your cat is in a happy home.
Black cats (voids) are indeed the best. Lucky you. Lucky Bea.
Bea is looking very comfy!!! We love rescues and appreciate people that rescue animals.
Bless you for giving a shelter cat with needs a secure & loving home. Your kindness will be returned beyond measure!
Congrats to both your family and Bea! Our cats Serrawac and Roger the Shrubber look forward to her reviews!
Thanks! And Bea says hello!
OMG, I’m so glad you adopted! I know you are smiling a lot more now, and so is Bea!
So sorry for your loss, as a pet owner myself I know how hard it is to lose our furry companions yet I’m so glad to see you adopted a beautiful animal that needs a home. Wishing you peace and joy
Thank you!
Haha.. I have her look alike brother, Wacky Jacky🤣🤣.. He too, was born in 2017 but the vet wasn’t sure but said in the April -June range, as he was a feral that I picked up, from the road,in a storm.. he was SO skinny then, but resembles Bea now 🤣🤣
We are quickly learning that black cats are fun and special! Bea says hello!
Thanks for adopting Ms Bea kitty.
I know she will be a blessing to your family .
Voids are the best! I’m so glad she’s making her self comfortable in her new home, and I look forward to seeing her in future reviews!
Good on you for adopting an older, black kitty. She’s beautiful! Enjoy your new furbaby!
So sorry that you lost your beloved Hilde. Bea is beautiful. Bless you for choosing a senior black cat. My 16-year-old black cat Cinder has been with me since infancy. We needed to bottle feed her after she was found wandering, apparently abandoned or lost from her litter. Her kidneys are failing, but a new medication has been keeping her pretty active and happy. I am so glad to have her.
Our Hilde had declining kidneys as well, although that wasn’t what she ultimately passed from.
Bea says hello to Cinder!
What a sweet baby – so sorry to hear of Hilde’s passing, but also glad to see that another cat gets to be part of the Aldi Reviewer family!
So sorry for your loss. Glad Bea found a loving home!
YAY! And welcome, Bea. She is blessed to have you guys and I know she will be bring bountiful blessings to you as well. So glad to have a new reviewer cat on board and I look forward to her opinion on all cat related (and non cat related) stuff!
Thank you!
I cannot express enough how happy I was to see a picture of Bea …the new Aldi Reviewer cat! Not only is she beautiful but I am sure she is also very qualified to take on her new role. Like you my kitty Pavlova also recently passed and like you I am also planning a visit to our local animal shelter soon.
There are so many cats looking for their forever homes and the love and joy they can bring is irreplaceable.
Thank you for the introduction and congratulations.
Thank you, and we’re so sorry to hear about the loss your of Pavlova.
What a lucky cat!!! I love when older cats find loving homes. And how very lucky that you adopted her now, since many, many shelters won’t adopt out black cats around Halloween thanks to a lot of cruel skanky characters.
So happy to hear the joyful news of your adoption of Ms. Bea, bonus that she’s a senior rescue to join her forever family. She’s beautiful, stunning eyes! I look forward to Ms. Bea’s contributions as I did enjoy Hilde’s! ❤🐈
Rachael and Joshua,
My heartfelt condolences for your loss of Hilde. It’s truly a huge void in the family.
After we lost our 22 year old Scarlet (Shelter rescue as a kitten), I allowed a few months to grieve and when ready, it’s always been Shelter cats for me. Unfortunately, most people pass on Seniors because “they’re old and have health issues they don’t want to deal with”, so they are either euthanized or they become “the Shelter cat” and continue being stuck in a cage with occasional walks around the Shelter.
Now that I’m over 60, I felt “a Senior for a Senior”! Rescued my tortoiseshell at 10 years old, her original human had terminal Cancer and could no longer care for her.
Now, 4 years later, my life long best friend just passed away from Cancer and I promised her that I would take care of her Senior, Tinkerbell, also 14. So now, we’re “The Golden Gals” and I’m loving every minute with these two!
I wish y’all much happiness together and look forward to her Aldi reviews!
Tell Miss Bea I said Pststststst!!! 😹
Thank you, Sandy! I love your sweet story about taking in senior cats.