Mental health, pets, anxiety, and worry have followed Niklas Lundström, 40, throughout his life. But it wasn’t the healthcare system that ultimately helped him. Instead, two cats came to his rescue.

Niklas Lundström recalls his first feelings of anxiety.
“I was five years old and about to start at a new preschool. It was a horrible feeling throughout my whole body. I was about to lose my safe space, my secure bubble.”

Over the years, that feeling would become all too familiar—a hyperactive sense of worry often triggered by changes, big events, travel, or new responsibilities.
“In hindsight, I realize it had been there long before. My mother told me that even as a one-year-old, I could react so strongly that I would bang my head against the wall.”

In school, Niklas was calm and ambitious. Afraid of failure, he always excelled and never caused trouble. His mental health struggles went unnoticed.
“When I was in school, mental health issues were something shameful you didn’t talk about, especially as a boy. I became an expert at hiding my anxiety from everyone around me,” he explains.

This pattern continued into adulthood until a breakup pushed him over the edge. He fell into a depression, accompanied by such intense anxiety that it became difficult to function. That was when he decided to visit a health center.

“The doctor suggested a sick leave and antidepressant medication. But I love my job—it has always been a source of stability and a place where I function and feel good. I needed that solid foundation,” says Niklas, who also didn’t want to take medication to address his issues. “It might have been a prejudice, but I had friends who experienced nasty side effects, so I didn’t dare,” he says.

By then, Niklas already had Cooper and Kira, two cats he had reluctantly agreed to adopt with his ex-partner a few years before they separated. Niklas had never pictured himself as a cat owner, but he quickly fell for Cooper’s surprising personality.
“He has so much energy, is very social and playful, and will do anything to get my attention. That wasn’t how I imagined a cat to be—I thought they were boring.”

Cooper is a Sphynx, or a hairless cat, who was soon joined by a calm and reserved Cornish Rex named Kira. “She’s completely different from Cooper. Maybe that’s why they get along so well.”

The two cats have become a hit on Instagram under the account Sphynxnille, where Cooper, in particular, has garnered an international following for his unusual love of water. Niklas’ videos of Cooper enjoying luxurious baths in the tub are especially popular.

When Niklas first began posting photos in 2015, he had no idea that his Instagram account would eventually become the platform he needed to open up about his mental health. But three years later, he wrote a column for the magazine Kattliv, sharing how anxiety had followed him throughout his life and how his cats had become his support system.
“It got a big reaction, especially from my mom, but also from many readers who could relate,” he says.

Niklas Lundström has always enjoyed writing, and after the column, Instagram followers began urging him to write a book. At first, he hesitated, afraid of failing.
“But I still started jotting down my story with pen and paper. I enjoy writing that way,” he says.

In his newly published book, Cooper, Kira, and I: Two Cats’ Guide to Healing a Human, Niklas shares how Cooper and Kira helped him find a turning point. When his depression was at its worst, he had thoughts of ending his life.

“I could prepare everything and take care of most things. But what about the cats? Someone would need to take care of them. Who would do that? I had no answers.”

No matter how poorly he felt, the cats needed food, water, and company. He realized they depended on him. He also noticed that his cats were affected by his emotional state. They stayed close, brushing against his legs, never leaving him out of sight. They sensed how he felt without needing any explanation.

“Cooper completely changed his personality when I was at my lowest. He stopped being wild and just sat in my lap. Kira was also affected. She wouldn’t let me close the bathroom door and always stayed nearby.”

Slowly, Niklas began to feel better. Just knowing that others were aware of his struggles lightened the burden. And the unconditional love from his cats gave life meaning.

Today, Niklas Lundström is not entirely free from his mental health challenges. He can still experience anxiety and worry that greatly impact him.

“But I’ve learned to live with it in a way I couldn’t before. It’s about a kind of acceptance. I might always have bad periods, and that’s okay. There’s so much else in life that’s meaningful,” says Niklas.