Get

In Your Inbox

Catster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

This Clever Cat Has Lived at a German University for 13 Years

Her name is Fräulein Sinner. This tabby-and-white girl should, in theory, be expert in fields such as child care, environmental issues, languages, democratic social networks, and artists’ roles in political change.

Why? Well, when biologists, educational specialists, or sociopolitical researchers at Hildesheim University in Germany are teaching, this campus cat will roam the hallways and join the human students. Her favorite place? The cozy armchair in front of lecture hall three, where she secretly learns and listens to everything that is being taught.

But nobody really knows whether during 13 years at the university she has gained the aforementioned knowledge, because, well, she has taken no exams.

“Technically, she is the most clever cat in the world, because she loves hanging out in seminar rooms,” says Annedoris Bruns, secretary at the Institute of Pedagogy at Hildesheim University.

divider 3 paws

Fräulein Sinner’s Story

Fräulein Sinner Hildesheim Campus Cat - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Photo by Isa Lange

The University of Hildesheim in Northern Germany has had a campus cat since January 2002. Back then, administrator Monika Sinner found a homeless, skinny, and injured cat who liked to linger around the warm air from the vents that flowed through the university library at night. The cat is named for Monika Sinner, whose last name, in German has nothing in common with the English word “sinner.”

All attempts to settle her into a shelter or a home with a family failed. Fräulein Sinner kept returning to the main campus of the university, and she has been a long-term student there ever since. Monika Sinner saw that the cat was very shy and wary at first, whereas today she is almost an attention seeker and loves being at the center of the action. She has a team of researchers (even one with a cat allergy) looking after her, to make sure her food bowl is always full — she has at least three feeding spots.

Fräulein Sinner Hildesheim Campus Cat - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Photo by Isa Lange

Various others contribute to the care of Fräulein Sinner, including biology professor Uwe Kierdorf and Ph.D student Margarethe Becker. The latter says the cat chose the university, and not vice versa.

“This kitty is really unique. The first ‘person’ when I initially came to the campus for my interview was Fräulein Sinner,” she says. “Wherever you find students studying, this cat is never far away from them.”

The main campus consists of various buildings connected by doors, so whenever Fräulein Sinner wants to go outside, she depends on humans. But who wouldn’t love to open the door for an “old lady?” At Hildesheim, everyone has taken her into their hearts.

Sleepy Fräulein Sinner - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Sleepy Fräulein Sinner. Photo by Isa Lange

divider 3 paws

Questions About the Campus Cat Answered

Catster caught up with Isa Lange, who was a student and is now an office administrator at the university.

Catster: Is Fräulein Sinner considered to be the university’s mascot?

Isa Lange: She chose this place as her home, so we don’t really see her as a mascot, but she surely brings a lot of joy into many people’s lives here. There are so many serious subjects that occupy our minds, and when this kitty flits past us on our way to the office or a lecture, she always puts a smile on our faces and spreads good vibes with her purrs and affection.

Hildesheim is only a small university (about 7,500 students) and most people know one another. This feeling of “community” also reflects on how people treat the cat. Many students and teachers here love sharing their daily lives with Fräulein Sinner, and everybody is really gentle and considerate with her — otherwise she probably wouldn’t be here anymore.

A seminar called “animal-assisted education” was offered for the summer semester this year. This is still a very new and unexplored field of practice, but it teaches students the benefits of using animals at day care centers, youth centers, and schools, for example, with regard to the assumption of responsibility and mutual respect. Fräulein Sinner acts as a kind of muse for people studying this course.

Fräulein Sinner Hildesheim Campus Cat - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Studying is tiring business. Photo by Isa Lange

Catster: What is Fräulein Sinner like, character-wise? Is she cute and cuddly or grumpy and independent?

Isa Lange: At first, our campus cat was very shy and suspicious of people but now has become trusting and friendly. She takes part in lectures and lets students cuddle her while she struts around underneath their chairs. I think she really likes the young people here at the university. When she wants some peace and quiet, she disappears a few meters away and rests on one of the comfy blue chairs next to the lecture hall.

Also, she is intelligent. Very intelligent, I presume. Nobody has yet studied her to find out how high her cat IQ is, but she knows how to silently manipulate students and researchers to not just simply walk past her, but to open doors for her wherever she goes.

Fräulein Sinner Hildesheim Campus Cat - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Fräulein Sinner snoozes in front of the lecture hall. Photo by Isa Lange

Catster: How does Fräulein Sinner react when someone brings a dog onto the campus?

Isa Lange: She doesn’t like dogs at all. She will either run away or quickly hide somewhere.

Fräulein Sinner Hildesheim Campus Cat - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Fräulein Sinner having a stroll in the lecture hall. Photo by Isa Lange

Catster: After various attempts to home this cat, why do you think Fräulein Sinner always comes back to the university? Wouldn’t it be better for her to live with a nice family?

Isa Lange: We have tried very hard to find a family to take her in, but every time, she made her way back here. We just have to face the fact that this cat has chosen this place as her permanent home, where she lives, hunts, sleeps … and studies.

Fräulein Sinner having a good stretch - Photo Credit: Isa Lange
Fräulein Sinner has a good stretch. Photo by Isa Lange

About the Author: Barbarella Buchner — Ailurophile. Geeky Goth Girl. Ex-Musician Singer/Songwriter. Photographer. Web Designer. Fibromyalgia + RA Sufferer. And totally mad. She originally hails from Hannover (Germany), then moved to London, and since 2004 has lived on the tropical island of Lanzarote, together with her tabby twins Lugosi & Spider, and ginger queen Ruby Akasha. She is a photographer, and she works as a freelance web and graphic designer and occasional Catster/Dogster contributor.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate (you can leave written feedback after clicking submit)

Help us improve Catster for pet parents!

Your feedback really matters.

What did you like about this post? Also how can we improve it?

Join the conversation

Leave a Reply

You’re very welcome to leave a comment or question. Please know that all comments must meet our community guidelines, and your email address will NOT be published. Let’s have a positive and constructive conversation.

Talk With A Vet Online

Peace of mind,
anywhere, anytime

Affordable vet advice

We Chat With the Co-Founder of NYC’s First Cat Cafe

Ever since I learned that cat cafes existed, I dreamed of visiting one. It might seem odd, since my own home could be...

We Chat With Pet Portrait Artist Thomas Dalsgaard Clausen

Pet portraits and artists are prevalent online, but rarely will you find someone who captures the essence of the animals he draws like...

Getting A Tattoo of Your Cat: Everything You Need To Know

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about...

Isabel and milly

Purrminators Helps Kittens and Adult Cats via Instagram

Brechje is a woman who lives in the Netherlands, and when her mother fostered a litter of orphaned kittens in 2012, the benevolent...

bunch of tabby kittens

More related

Catster_Wednesday Cats_v1-2_Oct 9 2024 (1)

What’s In a Name? The Wednesday Cats of Catster’s Nicknames

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every month, we ask our cat-loving Catsters to weigh in on a new topic. This week,...

Compassion Without Borders Aims to Bring Basic Vet Care to Low-Income Populations

My annual vet bill can spike into the thousands of dollars some years, depending on who is struggling with health care problems and...

Pregnant Milly and proud Isabel

Quarantine Kittens: The Night I Became An Accidental Midwife for Milly (With Video)

Welcome to the Wednesday Cats of Catster! Every week, we share a story from one of our cat-loving Catsters. This week is about...

We Chat with the Creator of “Hell’s Kitty,” a Show Starring a Cat Named Angel

Do you ever look your cat deep in the eyes and become overwhelmed with the soul-shuddering feeling that you are staring right into...

Keep reading

Why Do Cats Sit on Squares, Even If It’s Just Tape? 8 Interesting Reasons

For some odd reason, cats seem to enjoy sitting on squares. They’ll even sit on pieces of tape that look like tiny squares, which can be quite comical. But why do cats love sitting on squares so much? Here are...

Cat inside a square made of tape

Cat Asthma: Vet Reviewed Signs, Life Expectancy, & Treatment

Asthma isn’t just a human disease; it can affect our pets too. In fact, it affects between 1% and 5% of cats. It’s a chronic but treatable breathing condition that causes inflammation and reactive constriction of the airways. While it’s...

tabby cat sneezing

Why Do I Need to Clean My Cat’s Litter Box? 10 Vet Reviewed Reasons & Cleaning Tips

As a cat owner, you know that cleaning the litter box is definitely the least pleasant chore associated with caring for your feline friend. However, keeping your cat’s litter box clean is also one of the most important things you...

cat-pooping-outside-the-litter-box

Why Is My Cat Sneezing? 8 Vet-Approved Reasons Behind the Behavior

Cats do all sorts of weird things. They’ll run around the house at 2 a.m., chasing nothing in particular. They’ll stop right in the middle of licking themselves, leaving that one leg stuck straight in the air. Sometimes they’ll sneeze—frequently....

Cat sneezes

10 Best Cat Foods for Senior Cats in 2025 – Reviews & Top Picks

It’s a privilege to share your life with a beloved feline companion. The changes that cats undergo as they pass through middle age into advanced seniority require some lifestyle changes. At some stage, you may need to consider adjusting their...

black and white old cat eats from a plate

Does Febreze Kill Fleas on Cats? Vet Reviewed Effectiveness & Alternatives

Febreze is a household cleaning brand specializing in producing deodorizing products. Products such as pet fabric fresheners and deodorizing sprays are some of their most well-known lines, but no products that Febreze manufactures are safe for direct use on cats,...

Cat with fleas

Is Cyclamen Poisonous to Cats? Vet-Reviewed Houseplants Examined

Cyclamen is part of the primrose family and blooms sweet-smelling flowers that grow off long green stems above the leaves. This perennial plant dies down and is left with nothing but stubs during the summer months. Once fall comes around,...

Catster_Is Cyclamen Poisonous to Cats

Can Cats Eat Carrots? Vet-Reviewed Nutritional Facts & FAQ

Carrots are a common ingredient in most kitchens and can be enjoyed cooked or raw. They are also a common ingredient in dog food and some cat food formulas. But what about your cat? Yes, cats can enjoy carrots as...

Can Cats Eat Carrots