Here's the second of three posts about the street cats of Benidorm, this time focusing on a very special little lady.
Although I know street cats don't really have names, we still give them one just so we know who we're talking about between us. So we call this one Cimbel, because she lives in the front flowerbed of the Hotel Cimbel on the Levante beach in Benidorm.
We weren't able to get great photos of her, because she only ever seems to come out at night. She is very much a "standard issue cat" in her looks, but she's got a lovely personality and will happily talk back to anyone who passes by and says hello 😀
What's amazing about this girl is that we've seen her for the last three years, which is some kind of miracle in a town where most street cats are lucky to live more than a few months.
Accidents and illness are ever-present hazards. Many of them live in strips of shrubby grass, but which are actually storm drains for torrents off the hills in winter, and risk being swept away by storms. But Cimbel has people who keep an eye on her; the hotel staff, the waiters at the restaurant next door, and the registered cat-feeders of Benidorm.
Cimbel lives life on her own terms. Just occasionally we'll see her on the road in front of the neighbouring restaurant (the Jardin Mediterraneo - very recommended, especially if you like seafood !), where she'll let passers by give her a quick stroke and a chat.
The hotel recently put up a grating in front of their flowerbeds, which is ideal for her. At night, when the drunks come out, she can watch the world in safety, and during the day she sleeps soundly hidden behind the plants. They also covered over the place she used to spend her time, which is actually a good thing because she was too exposed there to people pestering her. It's clear the hotel staff don't mind her being there !
When we were there last September, she was very obviously heavily pregnant. It made her a bit moody and wary of people, and I don't blame her !
This time, we saw one cat who popped by occasionally who was like her but bigger; we think he was her son. Also, her ear had been clipped (which it wasn't before), so it looks like the trap-neuter-release programme spayed her after she gave birth, which is probably a very good thing.
While we were stopped talking to her one night, we met one of the registered cat-feeders. He left her dry food, fresh water and a small amount of cooked chicken (which she gobbled up with great enthusiasm !). We had a quick chat with him, and he knew all the cats we'd seen and helps look after them. A very kindly man !
We're due to go back to Benidorm again in the autumn, I hope she's still there and living happily when we go back.
Oh, and I found one more photo of the tribe of kitties at the Torre Coblanco, so here's a gratuitous photo of cats sleeping 😁
All photos taken by myself or my wife