Need help identifying a fantasy short story about a woman turning into a cat

The story is about a young woman turning into a cat. I read it (in German) about twenty years ago. It was published in a collection of cat stories; I remember Poe’s ‘The Black Cat’ being among them.

• Her unhappy relationship with a man is an big part of the story. He is either about to leave her for another woman, or emotionally neglects her, or is oblivious to her love; I can’t remember which. Anyway, the guy and his neglect/ abandonment/ obliviousness are the catalyst for her transformation into a cat.
• The woman first develops an aversion to water, making cleaning herself a complicated chore. Her behaviour also becomes more catlike in other ways. However, there are no physical changes until the very end, when she runs away because of something the guy does, starts feeling strange and disappears into the night.
• The guy searches for her but can’t find her and is desperate. After a few days he finds a beautiful cat — the former woman — near his home. He takes the cat into his home and keeps her. The story ends with him offering milk first — which the cat refuses — and finest cream afterwards.
• There’s a strong vibe that this is a happy ending — with her being more independent and less needy of his affection in her feline form, and with him finally being able to express warmth/love towards her.