Cat Antonio

Cat Antonio. Our Spanish cute cat

We have a Spanish friend living with us — a cute cat named Antonio. Why Spanish? Well, here’s why. My daughter was on a business trip in Barcelona and would go rollerblading on weekends. Mostly on a rowing channel next to a forest. There are a lot of cats living there.

The owners of nearby cafes feed them, and in return, the cats protect them from rodent invasions. One day, my daughter noticed that the adult cats wouldn’t let a kitten near the food bowl. He was all alone, without his mother. It was obvious that he was sick — his side was torn, and his eye was cloudy, but he defended himself as best he could — puffing up and hissing at his attackers.

My daughter stood up for the kitten and helped him get to the food bowl. After eating, he crawled up to her feet and started pleading with a meow. My daughter was at a loss. She understood that she would face difficulties crossing the border since she was on a business trip in another country. But she couldn’t leave the kitten behind, so she took him with her.

The next day, she took the little one to the local veterinary clinic, where he was treated, vaccinated, chipped, and given a visa for leaving Spain. That’s how Antonio ended up with us in Russia.

The vets believe that Antonio is a cross between some forest animal and a cat. He has a large muzzle with huge expressive eyes. And he also doesn’t meow, making some guttural sounds. But we still love our Spanish friend, and he’s grateful for his rescue.