A cat lover’s B&B on Mallorca

You won’t find a cat café anywhere on Mallorca, but any cat lovers visiting the Spanish holiday island will find their feline fix if they stay at Finca Son Jorbo.  Located on the outskirts of the market town of Porreres, this rural B&B is the home of English hosts Annie and Martin … and their ten cats.

cat warning sign
cat warning sign

My heart did a little happy dance when I saw the sign at the entrance to Finca Son Jorbo: cats were about! And it wasn’t long before we saw the first one, a sleek black puss snoozing on a wicker seat in the shade of the main house porch, where our hosts were waiting to greet us.

A cat-alogue of adventures

Annie and Martin moved with their three cats from Birmingham to Mallorca in December 2003 to run their own B&B. Posy (then 18) has since passed but black-and-white cats Bertie and Monty are now 16 and enjoying their senior years. Monty is Finca Son Jorbo’s PR ‘man’ and features on their website. Annie told me that returning guests always ask on arrival after him and Bertie.

"That lady staying in Rosa told me I was beautiful!"
“That lady staying in Rosa told me I was beautiful!”

Like many Brits (including us) who own a rural property on Mallorca, this friendly and welcoming couple has seen their feline family grow in number.

Paco and Pedro were just tiny kittens, brought in a sack by a local farmer who called at the finca with a gift of apricots; (Annie makes her own delicious jams for breakfast).  Several years on, these handsome tabbies are now, as the locals often say, ‘muy grande’.

No sack for this chap now
No sack for this chap now

Sadly, abandoned animals (cats and dogs) are all too common on Mallorca, and it’s often foreign residents who take on these poor unwanted creatures. Annie and Martin certainly have a knack for finding and adopting abandoned kittens: Sidney was found sitting in the middle of the local rubbish tip; today he lives in rural tranquillity. Harry was found wandering near a motorway between cars – his ears badly sunburnt. He turned out to be deaf, and the couple fitted him with a transmitter so they can find him at feeding time.

Black-and-white cat Cyril was one of several stray toms who would come to steal food. He was allowed to stay, but only after having the ‘snip’ (house rules). Catching him, however, saw Martin having anti-tetanus jabs for wounds sustained in the process!

Cat asleep in garden
Cat asleep in garden

Our one-night stay was not enough to get to know all the cats (or work out which black-and-white cat was which),  but I had fun wandering around the lovely garden in search of them. Cat-themed decorative items also feature around the property.

Even a cushion featured a cat
Even a cushion featured a cat
Cat ornaments in front of the old bread oven
Cat ornaments in front of the old bread oven
The Mister T of the cat world - an ornament found in southern Spain
The Mister T of the cat world – an ornament found in southern Spain

The accommodation …

Finca Son Jorbo is a traditional 17th-century Mallorcan house, set in lovely gardens. For  adults only, it has five self-catering suites – all stylishly decorated and well-equipped. We stayed in the first-floor apartment named Rosa, which has a huge terrace with table and chairs under a gazebo and two sun loungers – and offers superb views over the surrounding countryside.

The sitting room of Rosa
The sitting room of Rosa
Well-equipped kitchen
Well-equipped kitchen
View from the terrace of Rosa
View from the terrace of Rosa

Annie has a great eye for interior design and is also a talented seamstress (she made the Designers Guild curtains and cushions), and the apartments are attractive as well as comfortable, with heating, air conditioning, and a well-equipped kitchen.

In the main house is a breakfast room (it’s served on the terrace in fine weather) and well-stocked library, with honesty bar, and computer for guests’ use. The whole property has free Wi-Fi.

Outdoors there’s a swimming pool with loungers, BBQ for guests’ use, and a chill-out area with a Moroccan vibe.

Finca Son Jorbo is just outside the town of Porreres, which has a weekly market, supermarket, other shops, and quite a few restaurants, cafes, and bars. You can travel anywhere on Mallorca from here within an hour.Or just stay put and enjoy peace, relaxation … and the company of 10 much-loved cats.

www.fincasonjorbo.com

About the author:
Jan Edwards is a freelance journalist, broadcaster, and blogger who lives in a rural finca on Mallorca with The Boss. They have eight cats – only one of which (19-year-old Birman, Minstral) was brought with them to the island. Jan blogs on www.livinginruralmallorca.com

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15 thoughts on “A cat lover’s B&B on Mallorca

  1. Pingback: Reblog: A cat lover’s B&B on Mallorca — Katzenworld – Scooter's Tale

  2. Annie Sofiano says:

    Thanks Jan, I think you have summed up our place beautifully – 1 small update – Boris a three month old ginger kitten appeared on our doorstep two weeks ago. He now has his paws firmly under the table and makes the total to eleven! Annie at Finca Son Jorbo

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