The Cats of Hydra, Greece.

In September 2012 Karen Patrick walked part of the Great Wall of China for Dementia Care.
 

Her story is related in her book 'Scaling the Dragon's Back' which is available from Amazon for Kindle, Barnes and Noble for Nook, on Kobo and on all other formats from theendlessbookcase.co.uk

Her book is sold in support of Dementia Care. 

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Cats and Greece  

One of our adopted house cats

From my previous visits to the Greek islands I knew they were, distressingly, overrun with hungry feral cats roaming the streets and causing a real nuisance around tavernas’ looking for food hand outs from sympathetic tourists; soft touches and animal lovers like me.

Many tourists found the numbers of cats off putting having their meal times spoiled by cats crowding in on them at restaurant tables.  The situation in Greece I an told had reached crises proportions.  Visitors in search of a relaxing holiday in the sun encountering diseased, starving, and injured animals that seemed received no care and belonged to no one. I know many of my friends visiting Greece found this aspect of their holiday upsetting and said it had detracted from their holiday experience.

The Background

Fisherman feed the cats small fish.

In Greek culture cats were not valued, often thought of as vermin.  After membership of the European Union, pressure was placed on the Greek government to bring its animal policies in line with those of other EU countries. In fact in 2007 the European Commission reported Greek authorities to the European Court of Justice for their continuing lack of action for animal welfare. 








The Greek Cat Welfare Society which was formed in 1992 had as their aim to undertake neutering of legions of stray cats and educate and encourage local people to also have their animals neutered.  On my first visit to Hydra in 2002 I saw various notices posted around the island  publicising and promoting the neutering programme and the dates of visits to the island.  

A hole in the wall, made to measure.

Another of our house guests.

Additionally, some European and North American volunteer associations have adopted colonies of feral cats treating on various islands treating diseased animals, giving injections, and neutering to control breeding, often with the help of volunteer veterinarians and technicians from the sponsoring countries. Education outreach includes the distribution of pamphlets, referrals for veterinary care, and programs for schoolchildren to demonstrate proper care for pets and also to inculcate compassionate attitudes toward animals. Other efforts involve write-in campaigns to pressure the Greek government to enforce existing animal control laws and to make acts of abuse prosecutable offenses. 

Hydra

I can see you.

  
When I first visited the idyllic island of Hydra in 2002 I found the island was overrun with stray, abandoned and feral cats. Many were diseased, starving and injured animals. The majority of them are born in the spring and survive through the kindness of tourists who feed them. 

Wot u lookin' at?

Revisiting Hydra again this year (2014), a long overdue and much promised return, I was very pleased and relieved to see there was clear evidence that the neutering programme on the island has been effective.  Although feral cats were still plentiful their numbers were significantly reduced. Furthermore...

Let me in...go on...when i wake up.

As evidenced by my photos, the cats looked healthier and better fed than they had been in 2002.  Fewer lay siege to diners at restaurants quite so greedily which made eating out an altogether more enjoyable and less traumatic experience.  Importantly I was not frequently upset at the sight of the deceased and starving animals as I had been twelve years ago.

Let us hope the good work continues and the improved situation is a constant with no return to the bad old days.

A local shopkeeper fed the cats in one of the islands squares.

See below for useful inks if you would like to find out more about this work:

http://www.greekcatwelfare.moonfruit.com/

http://www.greekcatrescue.com/

http://www.hydraark.org/Links.html

And to close - another of our house cats.