Ratona is not just a cat; she embodies wisdom and kindness.
She lives freely in the countryside with two other cats. She's one of those creatures you encounter in life who come to you and choose you.
I met her during the COVID pandemic. I spent the months of lockdown with my parents in a small country house they own near my village. It's a cave house. Some people used to be built for the summer months; the temperature inside remains constant year-round, and they're very cool and fresh in summer. It's in a mountainous area, and there are rabbits, partridges, foxes, and some wild cats nearby.
During the pandemic, I would get up early to do some stretching outdoors. I had seen Ratona pass by, as well as other wild cats. She was almost always with another female cat; I don't know if they're related or if Ratona adopted her. We had seen them a few times in the summer, hidden away in the hollow of a carob tree, after they had given birth. Sometimes my father would give them some milk. Then, suddenly, one day they would disappear with the kittens when they felt stronger and take them away.
The thing is, she often watched while I did Qigong. At first, her presence made me uncomfortable; it was my moment of peace before my parents got up. Little by little, she started to approach and sometimes she would get between my legs while I was stretching.
That's how our friendship began, and now she lives in our country house with her companion, whom we've named Fuli, and with Txapela, Fuli's son. They have chosen to stay there and be part of our family. So, I now have three cats. I go up every three days to check on them, to make sure they have food and water. They are experienced hunters, and I have to admit, sometimes I feel sorry for them when I see them playing with their preys or eating them. But it's their nature, and it's also their independence.
When Txapela got older, his mother stopped breastfeeding him and didn't want him to bother her. Ratona, who is pure kindness, taught him everything. She spoiled him so much that she let him nurse, even though she didn't have any milk. He'd leave her nipple like chewing gum from so much sucking. We found it very funny, and at the same time, we thought it was a sign of love and generosity. Txapela's teeth were already very big, and it bothered her, but she endured it stoically because she loves him very much.
This is how her nipple looked like after sucking Txapela.
She's blonde, and not as beautiful as Fuli, but very special.
Here she is Ratona
This is Fuli
This is a pray that Ratona showed me so proud. I took it and tried to reanimated it, but it didnot work. What a shame. It was a beautiful shrew.
This is Txapela. It is a basque name .It means a baque beret.
Txapela and Ratona, they use to sleep together
