Many of you have met Mima, the purring pussycat. She came to us when the world went crazy and everyone was locked away during COVID. Our neighbours had had yet another litter and we had a mouse problem, so it was a match made in heaven. My Dad was less enthusiastic as he feared she’d kill all the birds that keep him company at the breakfast table.
But I managed to get my own way, as one usually does when they’re an only child, and thus Mima came to live at El Moro.
She was so tiny and precious when she arrived, yet fierce and strong minded, swiping Osa’s big wet nose with her tiny claws any time she felt threatened. Osa and Bunny were very intrigued by this strange little creature and I was afraid their overzealousness would end in tragedy. Scared to let her roam outside unsupervised I fashioned a sling out of an old scarf and Mima would slot into her pouch on my chest as I went about the day, gardening, feeding the horses and pulling out weeds. She got a very rounded education from the comfort of her chest hammock and sometimes would leap onto the ground with her big bushy tail in tow. She came with me everywhere and we really became the bestest of friends.
As she grew older and bigger she graduated from the sling and became friendly with the dogs. She was never afraid and would come up with creative ways to taunt and tease them. She would often distract Bunny, prompting her to chase a fictitious lizard while she quietly hid behind a tree and pounced when Bunny was least expecting it. A hilarious spectacle, our own David Attenborough show.
Bunny would get her revenge by playing the sitting game, where they’d fight and scratch until Bunny had enough and proceeded to sit on Mima and look oh so very proud of herself.
I miss my friends so much when we are away in the mountains and I often ask Mum and Dad how they’re getting on at their Winter Quarters in Las Tapias.
Mum and Dad were suspiciously uncommunicative about the animals over Christmas and I soon discovered why…
On Boxing Day I got a phone call which started like this. Daisy I’ve got an incredible story to tell you.
I was nervous. It didn’t sound good and I immediately thought of my furry friends.
“A couple of weeks ago, I was giving Mima and Bunny their supper and Mima was acting very oddly. Her tail was bushy and she had that crazy look in her eyes she sometimes does before she goes hunting. I didn’t think much of it at the time until she didn’t turn up for breakfast, and then for supper and then breakfast and then supper….”
“We lost her” he said. “And we’ve been putting off telling you for two weeks, we couldn’t face this conversation”…
I was silent on the other side of the telephone.
“And last night we came to El Moro after our boxing day party, as Las Tapias is so much further and our hosts had been generous with the champagne.
In the morning as your Mum went downstairs to make some coffee she heard an all too familiar Meeeeeow! And there she was, looking a bit thin and very relieved! Mima!”
Mima had walked 20kms all the way back to El Moro. She’s never done the journey before, she’s only ever been in the car – which she absolutely hates – on the main road. She then stayed completely alone at the Farm, hunting for food and sleeping in the attic.
I have no idea how she found the way to El Moro, and I cant imagine how bushy her tail must have been on the way, but the family is whole again.
I’ve since bought her a tracking collar in case she decides to go on another wild adventure.