Greece and the Greek Islands are all inundated with stray, abandoned and feral cats. The majority of them are born in the spring and survive through the kindness of tourists who feed them. When the tourists leave many die of starvation and many fall foul of cat hating people who poison them. For this reason the Greek Cat Welfare Society was formed in 1992. Our aim is to undertake neutering of colonies of stray cats and in doing so educate and encourage local people to also have their animals neutered.

Our main strategy is to support neutering of colonies of stray cats to reduce breeding. Trap, neuter and return TNR is now recognised to be the only humane, effective method of reducing a stray cat population. Over time TNR will greatly reduce cat numbers, providing it is carried out on an organised basis several times a year.

Our TNR work in an area is carried out in one or both of two ways By sending volunteer vets and nurses, usually from the UK, to carry out the neutering in most months of the year andor by giving financial and material support to local volunteer groups who organise neutering programmes. We are currently supporting over 30 local groups with grants, equipment, supplies and vetsnurses, in areas including Athens, Crete, Rhodes, Samos, Skyros and Thessaloniki.