The street cats of Greece

In the park near the Acropolis

If you’re a cat lover like me, you may have been inspired by the recent article in The Guardian about the couple who run a cat sanctuary on the Greek island of Syros. After having visited Greece, I saw firsthand the number of cats that inhabit the streets of the capital, and the neighboring islands. More needs to be done, and there are several nonprofits that work on feeding the strays, adopting them as well as running catch and spay/neuter programs. The UK charity Greek Cat Welfare Society accepts international donations through its secure website, and provides regular, inspiring updates on their Facebook page. They also offer tips for tourists on how to interact with the cats while you’re visiting. Yes, feed them (dry food, water and scraps of meat are best)!