Nelly was picked up during a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) operation to be sterilized. Initially, we all assumed she was a male. However, the nurse performing the sterilization on male cats noticed that Nelly appeared to have already been sterilized, although she was very bloated. We took her home and consulted the vet the next day to treat her for worms. It turned out that she wasn’t a male, but rather pregnant and about to give birth imminently. Concerned about her having her babies on the street, we brought her home. She gave birth, but unfortunately lost her kittens after a week due to being an inexperienced mother.

Over time, Nelly grew more confident and curious. One day, she wandered off and hasn’t been seen for over a month. We searched for her tirelessly, but with no success. Living surrounded by vast olive groves, with our nearest neighbor a ten-minute walk up the hill and the other a five-minute trek through a dry riverbed—or a twenty-minute walk around—it’s easy for a small cat to lose her way.

Though we hold onto hope that Nelly might still find her way back to us, we also know how vast and unforgiving the landscape can be. Her story remains a bittersweet reminder of the resilience, curiosity, and independence that define these remarkable animals.