On Saturday 2 August, we had a long day out in a hire car. We drove south to Ivailovgrad to picnic at the Armira Roman villa, then west to the Muslim town of Krumovgrad, where we paused for coffee. Heading north again, we took a minor road through the splendidly empty forested hills of the Eastern Rhodopes, towards the Stouden Kladenets Conservation Area and Devil's Bridge across the Arda River.

It was late in the very hot afternoon as we stopped to help a tortoise across the road. Round another bend, we again came to a halt, seeing a tiny bundle of fur lying in our path. A rabbit, perhaps? No, it was a pathetic little kitten, weak and dehydrated, which had crawled to the middle of the road and given up. It must have been dumped nearby, as there were no houses for many a mile. Margaret carried it to the verge and walked back to the car for some water. Kitten struggled to its feet and followed her – the best move it could have made! With little hope that the poor scrap would survive, we drove back with it as fast as we dared, stopping briefly in Harmanli to buy some cat food.

At the campsite we revived her (as she proved to be) with a sample of 'Darling' brand fishy chunks and chicken-flavour biscuits mashed in warm milk, then put her to bed in a cardboard box. By morning, she had rallied and we were able to gently shampoo her matted fur and check her over. The only visible injury was around a half-closed left eye. She responded warmly to handling and stroking, and enjoyed her bath!

Next day we took her to the 'vet' in Harmanli, who ran a small animal pharmacy in the bazaar, offering injections and simple treatment. He confirmed that our foundling was female, sold us worm tablets and flea spray, and indicated that her left eye was blind. She needed no further treatment.

We named the one-eyed kitten Nelson, which evolved into Nellie, then Little Nel. We bought her a smart blue harness and lead – from which she escaped in about 5 minutes flat, so maybe Houdini would have been better. But we need not have worried, she didn't stray far from our motorhome, the source of food of love. She repaid us handsomely, turning into a beautiful warm playful member of the campsite clan. Yes, there were already 3 young feline residents – Big Foot, Hobbs and Stumpy - cared for by Matt Jeffes. 

Young Nel is best described as a ginger-tabby short-haired domestic cat, with an adorable nature. Even Barry, who always preferred dogs, couldn't put her down! It was a delight to watch her grow strong, learn to climb the walnut tree, catch her first grasshopper, puzzle over her first frog … How we shall miss her when we hand her over to our kind friend, Bob Pharoah, who has offered Nel a permanent home when we leave Bulgaria.

For more images of Nel, other campsite cats and Carol's Bull Mastiffs, click: Cats and Dogs