William Garza
Veteran Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances, The Jakobsweg
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I walked the Camino in 2016, my husband walked it this year. I carried almost 8 pounds of cat food (wet and dry) and would replenish my supply whenever necessary. At times I’d see locals feeding them and I’d donate my cat food to them; they were always extremely grateful and it gave me an opportunity to have a conversation with a local.Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry on!
Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry on!
As a cat lover myself, while I didn't pet them in case they had fleas, I was tempted to rescue at least one who followed me. Enjoy them.Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry on!
They won't. They will run and hide if they are scared.There are many cats and you want to pet all of them. BUT, many are feral and I wouldn't want to get scratched by their claws.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
Wow! Bless you both. <3I always pet them if they're friendly and come to me, how could I not?
Even picked up a very sick kitten last year on the Francés, and while carrying him to the vet and then onwards to Santiago and Finisterre slowed me down a bit, it wasn't too bad and totally worth it
Greetings from the little four-legged catigrino! I guess he'd be happy to know that there are some pilgrims who take the time to stop and pet his friends and relatives that maybe still live along the Camino... maybe even a tasty treat for those that are starving...
Thanks from him to everyone who is friendly to the cats along the way:
View attachment 155124View attachment 155125
Or, do the opposite of your reflexive reaction. People with allergies or apprehensions tend to get very quiet to try not to be noticed... but very quiet and still is exactly what cats adore in a human.You may want to walk faster in between cafes, then ;-)
As for me, I am allergic to cats, and they seem to see it as a personal challenge. Many's the time I've had to actively shoo one away, or hold my hands in the air and ask the owner to remove it from my body so I don't get the dander on my hands/face.
I guess I will have to ask "Tiene gatos?" before I check into an albergue....
Hmm . That's a good point.Or, do the opposite of your reflexive reaction. People with allergies or apprehensions tend to get very quiet to try not to be noticed... but very quiet and still is exactly what cats adore in a human.
Yes, that might also be necessary....Hmm . That's a good point.
I'll start trying to take pictures while exclaiming loudly, Go away, sinus sweller! That might do it.
But based on what I read here, I'd better make sure I ask, "Tiene gatos aquí? Soy alergíco."
Oh! Spain also has no rabies... very high vaccination rates! And they require paperwork for any animal moving into the country from elsewhere. I gather that the peninsula and mountain range are quite protective in terms of animal migration, and IIRC it was declared "rabies free" in 2013. (I could be off on the year, but I was just reading WHO reports on rabies recently, so I'm not too far off).I too carry a supply of cat food - so many hungry felines, but never go up to them to stroke them. In the UK we don't have Rabies and have been brought up to be very wary of any contact that may cause us to be infected.
Mean creatures. I mean they kill everything. I'll take a dog. So friendly. Waiting for me to get home, always joyous when I return...Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry on!
Gosh, @good_old_shoes, this really is my favourite Cathedral photo EVER! I remember when you first posted it and was totally heart-struck with joy by it at the time and also with your story. How beautiful your little catigrino is and he looks so well! He’s one lucky cat.I always pet them if they're friendly and come to me, how could I not?
Even picked up a very sick kitten last year on the Francés, and while carrying him to the vet and then onwards to Santiago and Finisterre slowed me down a bit, it wasn't too bad and totally worth it
Greetings from the little four-legged catigrino! I guess he'd be happy to know that there are some pilgrims who take the time to stop and pet his friends and relatives that maybe still live along the Camino... maybe even a tasty treat for those that are starving...
Thanks from him to everyone who is friendly to the cats along the way:
View attachment 155124View attachment 155125
A cat person always knows to ask the cat if it wants a pat. Not by talking of course, they wouldn’t understand English anyway, but by the way you approach them. It will be obvious if a pat is welcome or not.There are many cats and you want to pet all of them. BUT, many are feral and I wouldn't want to get scratched by their claws.
What a lovely story. I have wanted to do that in a number of countries. A little one in Fez was particularly difficult to leave, but Australia has very strict quarantine requirements and it is impossible to for us to adopt a stray overseas. You are very lucky and so is catigrino! What did you name him?I always pet them if they're friendly and come to me, how could I not?
Even picked up a very sick kitten last year on the Francés, and while carrying him to the vet and then onwards to Santiago and Finisterre slowed me down a bit, it wasn't too bad and totally worth it
Greetings from the little four-legged catigrino! I guess he'd be happy to know that there are some pilgrims who take the time to stop and pet his friends and relatives that maybe still live along the Camino... maybe even a tasty treat for those that are starving...
Thanks from him to everyone who is friendly to the cats along the way:
View attachment 155124View attachment 155125
I adore cats and always carry a bag of cat nuts with me in poorer areas. My favourite cat was a friendly fellow in O Cebriero who sat on my lap for hours when I was having a rest day to help my tendinitis.
On my recent Camino in France I also brought cat nuts but after carrying them for half the trip I hadn’t seen any stray cats to feed. They were all obviously owned and well fed and thought they enjoyed the free feed, when it ran out I didn’t replace it.
It breaks my heart to see sad, sick cats and kittens. If I lived there I would become a mad cat lady with lots of rescues and would set up a desexing charity to stop the problem at its source.
I always pet them if they're friendly and come to me, how could I not?
Even picked up a very sick kitten last year on the Francés, and while carrying him to the vet and then onwards to Santiago and Finisterre slowed me down a bit, it wasn't too bad and totally worth it
Greetings from the little four-legged catigrino! I guess he'd be happy to know that there are some pilgrims who take the time to stop and pet his friends and relatives that maybe still live along the Camino... maybe even a tasty treat for those that are starving...
Thanks from him to everyone who is friendly to the cats along the way:
View attachment 155124View attachment 155125
Mean creatures. I mean they kill everything. I'll take a dog. So friendly. Waiting for me to get home, always joyous when I return...
A therapist might be able to help you with your problem. Cats are very good judges of character!Mean creatures. I mean they kill everything. I'll take a dog. So friendly. Waiting for me to get home, always joyous when I return...
a big problem especially in the UK where birds are attracted to gardens while simultaneously owners are told its “inhumane” to keep a cat indoors. Whereas the US it’s considered cruel to have outdoor cats due to the risks from cars and wild animals.We love all animals regardless of species or national origin. Unfortunately, outdoor cats are devastating for nature. They are major predators of small mammals and reptiles. Only windows kill more birds.
It does not stop me from carrying dry cat food in small packages to distribute to los hermosos gatos. For me, harming nature while helping strays is a moral conundrum. The solution to this immense issue does not lie within pilgrim control, so those pleading eyes win.
Thanks for your kindness to animals.
You mean the "rural Spanish culture" I think. The urban Spanish culture about cats is the same as everywhere. By the way, next week I' m going to feed a fat cat in a friend's appartment in Madrid because she is in holydays for 5 days. About " rural Spanish culture on cats", frankly I only know very well the Galician one ( owners usually never touch them) but I have no idea about what rural Catalans or Aragones people do with their catsSadly, the Spanish culture is not known to be kind to cats, unlike some countries that take great care to control overpopulation.
I guess there is a spectrum between Madrid and "rural" with a matching slide in the mindset, true.You mean the "rural Spanish culture" I think. The urban Spanish culture about cats is the same as everywhere. By the way, next week I' m going to feed a fat cat in a friend's appartment in Madrid because she is in holydays for 5 days. About " rural Spanish culture on cats", frankly I only know very well the Galician one ( owners usually never touch them) but I have no idea about what rural Catalans or Aragones people do with their cats
Yes, maybe I really don' t know the situation with cats in Castilla y Leon ( that is big).I guess there is a spectrum between Madrid and "rural" with a matching slide in the mindset, true.
Castilla y Leon kitties seem to have it the worst. Many expats in more popular areas seem to take on responsibility for colonies through feeding/sterilizing at their own expense. I know someone personally who does this for a big park in Madrid (as well as where I live in Lisbon). In Malaga the strays fed by the British pensioners are fatter than my housecat (although that's perfectly ok IMHO).
Beautiful. beautiful. I waht take them home with me.View attachment 155203
On the Camino de San Salvador.
Ohh no!You may want to walk faster in between cafes, then ;-)
As for me, I am allergic to cats, and they seem to see it as a personal challenge. Many's the time I've had to actively shoo one away, or hold my hands in the air and ask the owner to remove it from my body so I don't get the dander on my hands/face.
I guess I will have to ask "Tiene gatos?" before I check into an albergue....
I as it turns out, am a one dog man. Lost my little canine when i was a kid. That love of canine was enough, im closer to 60 than 50 and never had room in my heart for another.Mean creatures. I mean they kill everything. I'll take a dog. So friendly. Waiting for me to get home, always joyous when I return...
Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry
I recently read a meme that said 'if cats could text you back, they wouldn't," and such is the allure of these independent locals who more likely gaze at you with indifference or at best with curiosity. The Camino blesses us with a unique walk through the private lives of at least the domesticated animal kingdom! Every twist, turn and km holds the element of surprise of just who you will meet. Always, a welcome joy. Pictured, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and the cat with the violet eyes.Was walking a local park trail and there were many cats...many cats that i needed to pet.
If there are Cats on the Camino then it may take a while to complete...
One cannot simply pass by a cat and not pssp pssp and pet it.
Carry on!
I was told long ago by a wise veterinarian that you will out live every pet except your last one, who will outlive you.Pets dont live long enough.
Sorry to hear about your pet.I was told long ago by a wise veterinarian that you will out live every pet except your last one, who will outlive you.
As I now sit in a oncology veterinarian's office waiting for a diagnosis on our 14th pet, I understand your concern. Many lost souls wait for saviors in rescues and pounds. Perhaps you will again find love in your heart and room in your home.
That one dog was enough for a lifetime.I was told long ago by a wise veterinarian that you will out live every pet except your last one, who will outlive you.
As I now sit in a oncology veterinarian's office waiting for a diagnosis on our 14th pet, I understand your concern. Many lost souls wait for saviors in rescues and pounds. Perhaps you will again find love in your heart and room in your home.
I adore cats and always carry a bag of cat nuts with me in poorer areas. My favourite cat was a friendly fellow in O Cebriero who sat on my lap for hours when I was having a rest day to help my tendinitis.
On my recent Camino in France I also brought cat nuts but after carrying them for half the trip I hadn’t seen any stray cats to feed. They were all obviously owned and well fed and thought they enjoyed the free feed, when it ran out I didn’t replace it.
It breaks my heart to see sad, sick cats and kittens. If I lived there I would become a mad cat lady with lots of rescues and would set up a desexing charity to stop the problem at its source.
Sadly, many are diseased and it’s best to avoid physical contact.You may want to walk faster in between cafes, then ;-)
As for me, I am allergic to cats, and they seem to see it as a personal challenge. Many's the time I've had to actively shoo one away, or hold my hands in the air and ask the owner to remove it from my body so I don't get the dander on my hands/face.
I guess I will have to ask "Tiene gatos?" before I check into an albergue....
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