September 2, 2025, 11:47 am | Read time: 6 minutes
PETBOOK editor Louisa Stoeffler not only conquered many altitudes during her crossing of the Alps but also experienced a unique hut adventure: The Sudetendeutsche Hütte in East Tyrol–situated at an airy 2,656 meters–is not only a starting point for climbing tours to several 3,000-meter peaks but also offers oat milk chai lattes and creative dumpling variations. Here lives Emil the cat–the true boss of the house.
The hut is operated by Laura Gallonetto and her partner Patrick Juriga during the summer months and is supplied exclusively by helicopter. Between guest rooms, sun-drenched window sills, and the occasional mouse patrol, Emil the cat has developed his own rhythm. How to transport a cat by helicopter, why he likes to settle in the sink, and whether the mountain air makes him fluffier–Laura and Patrick share in the interview.
Emil Spends Summer at the Hut, Winter in the Valley
PETBOOK: You have a hut cat–how did that come about?
Laura Gallonetto: “Well, we did the first season without a cat, but there were quite a few mice around. I grew up with cats and pets in general. Unfortunately, our two cats were hit by cars. After that, my mom said she didn’t want any more pets–it’s just too hard when they die.
Eventually, my mom and I shared a bottle of Prosecco. I said, ‘I’d love to have a cat up at the hut.’ But I didn’t want one in our apartment in Innsbruck–I think cats should be able to go outside. Then my mom said, ‘Okay, we’ll share.’”
Patrick Juriga: “We do cat-sharing.”
Laura Gallonetto: (laughs) “Cat-sharing, exactly. In winter, he stays with my mom because there’s a house with a big forest behind it. It’s just nicer for him than our apartment. I believe cats should be able to go outside.”
How to Transport a Cat by Helicopter
PETBOOK: But here at the hut, it can get really cold, 4 degrees currently. Does he still like to go outside?
Laura Gallonetto: “He often goes out, but never very far. He also likes being indoors. He especially loves the deep window sills with sunshine or the heat from the stove. He often goes out at dusk–then he gets a burst of energy as if he wants to hunt. But he always stays close. At first, we were afraid an eagle might take him–he’s the right size for it. But he really stays near the house.”
Patrick Juriga: “When we have breakfast outside by the lake in the morning, he notices and comes out. It’s quite varied.”
PETBOOK: Did you need permission from the Alpine Club to bring him along?
Laura Gallonetto: “No, we have free rein. We’ve had a dog here before, it’s not a problem.”
PETBOOK: How do you get him up there? Do you carry him or does he walk with you?
Laura Gallonetto: “When we go up, the hut is usually not yet operational, so there’s nothing prepared for him. Then he comes with the helicopter–in his box.”
Patrick Juriga: “But of course not on the rope below, but in the cabin. (laughs) Once we carried him down–there was early snowfall–in his box, on the back with the backpack.”
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Does the Cold Air at 2,656 Meters Make Emil Fluffier?
PETBOOK: When petting him, I noticed he’s very fluffy. I thought he still had his winter coat. Do you notice that he has more fur up here or doesn’t lose his winter coat like he does down below?
Laura Gallonetto: “I don’t really know. I don’t feel like he has thicker fur here. As a British Shorthair, he’s just generally very fluffy. So yes, it feels that way.” (laughs)
PETBOOK: Does he like to play?
Laura Gallonetto: “Yes, especially in the mornings. When we’re preparing breakfast, he follows us into the kitchen. Then I often play with him.”
Patrick Juriga: “He gets up with us and goes down with us. In the evening, he waits at the stairs as if to say, ‘Are we finally going up?’ Then he goes to sleep with us.”
Laura Gallonetto: “He always finds something to play with–paper balls from the bills or my hair ties.”
Emil Is Like the King of the Hut
PETBOOK: How do you manage the litter box up here?
Laura Gallonetto: “The waste is flown down–like with a dog. We do it similarly to a dog, with bags. It’s then collected in regular trash bags. We also have a roll like the ones for dog waste bags–it works well.”
PETBOOK: How long are you at the hut in the summer?
Laura Gallonetto: “Four months in total. It’s open for three months, but we’re there for about four months.”
PETBOOK: How does he react to guests–or how do guests react to him?
Patrick Juriga: “I wouldn’t say he’s shy–he’s more like the king of the hut. He chooses who he wants to be with. If someone wants to pet him and he doesn’t like it, you can tell right away. But he does sit near the guests.”
Laura Gallonetto: “Most people are happy to see him. Even those with allergies are often surprised that it’s not so bad–maybe because he’s a British Shorthair. Patrick is also allergic, but he’s fine with Emil.”
PETBOOK: Does Emil have his own sleeping bag at the hut?
Laura Gallonetto: (laughs) “No, he sleeps in our room. He often lies in the sink or under the bed–there’s an emergency mattress under there, like a little cave for him. Our room is right above the lounge, so it’s nice and warm. At some point during the night, he comes onto the bed, walks over us, and lies on our stomachs–yes, very typical. And when he’s with my mom, he sleeps with her.”
PETBOOK: A cat living at 2,656 meters is quite special. Is there anything else unusual about Emil?
Laura Gallonetto: “Yes, he likes to eat grass. And nori seaweed sheets.”