OUR ACTIVITIES

Feeding Every day, we feed nearly 200 cats in central Athens. We bulk-buy tinned cat-food and dry cat biscuits, which we mix together for a healthy combination, and we always ensure that the cats have access to clean water. We do not feed household leftovers. We are careful to leave no mess or rubbish behind us, and we encourage casual feeders to do the same in order not to antagonise other citizens, who might take out their feelings on the cats. 

We also provide food to a number of, mainly elderly, citizens who feed large numbers of cats around Athens.

 

Neutering Neutering of stray cats is the most important step towards humanely reducing the overpopulation. According to animal rescue organisations, a single unneutered cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 kittens in seven years.

In addition to helping reduce the surplus of unwanted kittens, neutering a cat means it will be healthier (less risk of ovarian, testicular or breast cancer, no risk of sexually transmitted diseases), cleaner (no territorial marking), less aggressive, and significantly less likely to get run over or otherwise meet a sticky end when wandering in search of a partner.

 

In collaboration with local vets, we neuter/spay every new cat that gets dumped in the areas where we feed, so that no kittens are born there. We also operate catch-neuter-release programmes in other districts, and offer practical (and sometimes financial) assistance to feeders in wider areas of Athens who need help in getting cat colonies sterilised. Each year, we organise and pay for around 300 cats in Athens to be neutered.

 

In addition, through the Greek Cat Welfare Society, we organise neutering programmes on Greek islands and remote areas where there is no local veterinarian. On average, 1,000 stray cats are neutered each year through these programmes.

 

Treatment We also provide medical treatment for the cats we feed when they are ill or injured.

 

Rehoming It may appear to be a decent life on the streets of Athens, but the cats we feed are in great danger from stray dogs and fast cars. The dogs kill the cats for fun, not food; the attacks are triggered by boredom and the pack mentality.

 

By far the happiest, most rewarding part of our work is when we find good homes where our cats can live out the rest of their days in safety. We try especially hard to rehome the kittens, which have fewest chances of survival. See our Adoptions page for more details of cats in urgent need of good homes.

 

Fundraising Once a month, we take part in a car-boot sale/bazaar organised by SPAZ charity, selling our old clothes and household objects as well as some donated items from friends. We also arrange fundraising book sales three times per year, as well as dinner parties and other fun, social events. For news about upcoming events, check our Facebook page and the community announcements in the Athens News and Athens Plus, as well as this site.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
RESCUES

Kipseli area: Early December, one of our volunteers received a phone call from a distressed lady who informed us that a cat had been trapped for 15 days inside the building of the Public Health Practice of Athens Municipality on Chanion 4b street. The volunteer went there carrying a cat trap with some food in and next second the poor cat was inside the trap. The employees were feeding the cat but not sufficiently enough because when the cat went to the vet for a check up she was found very thin, dehydrated and extremely scared. After she was treated and got some weight back, she was neutered and was adopted by a cat lover who lives in Marousi with 20 more ex stray cats.

 

Acropolis area: Late November  we were informed by the police that someone had died and had left behind 3 cats that needed to be taken as there was no known relative. 2 of ours volunteers with the police escort went to estimate the situation and were appalled to see the conditions in which this poor person and the 3 cats were living. Next day, 2 other volunteers, again with the police escort, picked the cats from the apartment and drove them to the local vet. One of them stayed at the vet’s for further treatment as he was suffering from kidney failure and the other 2 after being neutered they were adopted. The neighbours very kindly donated us 180 euro for the cats treatment and general expenses. We are very grateful for their kind offer.

 

Zappion Main Building: One of our black cats one day in December 2007 just went missing. We all started thinking of the worst, that dogs caught him and killed him as many others of our poor stray cats. And then, some ten days later, Ioanna who was feeding at the time in the area, heard this heart breaking crying from the top of the building of Zapion. She tried to call the fire brigade but guess what… they wouldn’t come. Another volunteer went there the next day and tried to find the poor cat, searching for some time the huge terrace of the building but in vain. It had been raining all day so he was hiding.

 

A rescue team was organized for the second day and he was successfully caught and released in the park. He was painfully thin but happy to be free again  to see his old friends who had missed him all those days and even happier to have a full tin all on his own!

 

See our Adoptions page for more details.