Two new compounds have been synthesized and characterized in the systems A-Cd where A = Na or K. They have identical ratios of alkali-metal to cadmium but have remarkably different structures. The potassium compound, K-0.368(9)Cd-2 (tetragonal, I4/mcm, a = 9.169(1), c = 2.8779(5) Angstrom, Z = 2), has a zeolite-like frame built of cadmium, and with channels that are fractionally occupied by potassium. The sodium counterpart, Na26Cd141 (hexagonal, P6/mmm, a = 21.306(3), b = 9.625(2) Angstrom, Z = 1) is with the same alkali-metal fraction, Na0.369Cd2, but with a three-dimensional alloy-like structure. With the exception of one atom, it is isostructural with Y26Pd80Sn62 Structurally it differs substantially from the known Na2Cd11 (Na26Cd143) although the stoichiometries are very similar. Magnetic measurements and results from electronic structure calculations are reported as well.