A small community project caring for the village cats who live along the Way
The Story
If you have walked the Camino Francés and arrived in Rabanal del Camino after the slow climb from Astorga, you may have met Gracie, the stone colored cat who blends into the old village walls. Many pilgrims know her as Stone Cat or Ninja.
She’s part of a little community here: nearly twenty-five cats, a fox friend who wanders through now and then, and the occasional hedgehog. They move between gardens, stone walls, and the quiet edges of the Camino.
In season, pilgrims fill the village and snacks are easier to come by. In winter, everything becomes still. Only a few hearty souls pass through, and the animals remain, weathering the cold with far fewer warm places to curl up.
The weather has already begun to turn. We have had the first light snow, and our makeshift straw bale shelters are not warm enough for the long nights ahead. The cats need insulated huts, steady food, and occasional veterinary care. This winter we begin a simple project to help them.
What This Project Will Do
Our first goal is to build a warm, insulated hut for Gracie. Alongside this, we will improve conditions for the wider colony by adding or upgrading shelters, continuing to provide daily food through the winter, and covering veterinary care when it is needed. Most of the cats are already spayed or neutered, but a few still need appointments or medical attention. These funds will support all of their winter needs.
Why This Matters
Rabanal sits high in the León mountains, where winter is cold and windy. These little mountain tigers guard the path and have become part of village life and part of many pilgrims’ Camino stories.
A Little About Me
My name is Kim, and I have been a pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago for more than twenty years. Seven years ago I opened The Stone Boat guesthouse in Rabanal, welcoming pilgrims from all over the world. I recently passed it to friends who now carry it forward as The Pilgrim Stone, while I remain tucked in here in the village, cat wrangling, and living a quiet, creative, contemplative winter.
Stay Connected to the Camino
Many pilgrims miss the small, everyday moments of the Camino once they return home. Supporting this project is a simple way to stay connected to this little part of the Way.
Every donation becomes shelter, food, or veterinary care. We begin with one hut. With your help we will build more, and when possible extend support to nearby villages such as Manjarin.
How You Can Support CATMINO
Make a donation through GoFundMe.
Every donor receives a handwritten postcard from Rabanal. Please include your mailing address with your donation or you can also contact me via The Stone Boat website.
It is also possible to send supplies directly via Amazon or by post.
Kim Narenkivicius
Calle Real 28
Rabanal del Camino
León 24722
Spain
WhatsApp: +34 652 660 504
How The Funds Will be Used
Shelters
An insulated hut costs about 40 to 50 euros to build or order online. We have tested one model and are now working with a local carpenter on a few sturdier, waterproof shelters that can be placed discreetly into existing spots. We are not creating a hut for every cat. The goal is simply to improve the couple of shelters already in use and add one or two well-built huts where they are most needed, especially for the winter months.
Food for the colony
There are roughly twenty-five cats in the village, and now and then a new face appears. When possible, we try to find good homes for them. The colony is fed every day at three different spots, and the kibble adds up quickly with this gang.
Veterinary care
We work with Marta, a wonderful vet near Hospital de Órbigo who gives a discount for caring for the community cats. Winter often brings injuries or infections, and a few cats still need spay or neuter appointments.
Notes and Gratitude
If you would like to stay connected with village life and what is unfolding here, you are welcome to visit The Stone Boat website and sign up for the newsletter there.
In the new year I will be sharing updates from Rabanal, news about the cats, and a first look at the creative work taking shape as The Stone Boat shifts from guesthouse to vessel for Camino stories. This includes the Camino Anthology and the Camino Writers Workshop and Gathering planned here in Rabanal for October 2026. Invitations will follow for those who feel called to take part.
Wishing you peace, warmth, and blessings this holiday season.
With gratitude from Rabanal del Camino,
Kim
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PS. For the collectors and patch lovers, a couple of Catmino patches are in the works. If you would like one for your pack, send me a message and I will let you know when they arrive.
A small note about the platform: GoFundMe sometimes suggests a specific donation amount and also adds an optional tip for the platform. (The tip goes to GoFundMe, not to the cats). I cannot change this setting, so please feel free to give any amount that feels right to you. Truly, every contribution helps keep the cats fed, warm, and cared for this winter.
Organizer
