The islands of Paros and Antiparos are home to hundreds of stray cats, many of whom are in desperate need of assistance. With little to no funding for local animal welfare groups, the overpopulation crisis had escalated, leaving many cats to suffer.
However, thanks to the generous support of Battersea’s innovative Global Programmes initiative and in collaboration with the islands’ two Municipalities we are making significant strides to support the islands’ community cats.
We’ve partnered with local animal welfare groups – including Cats of Antiparos, Cats Eden in Paros (La Banda di Casa Elea), Paroscat, PAWS (Paros Animal Welfare Society), and Φιλοζωοι Εθελοντες Παρου (FEP Vet Centre) – to end the suffering of stray cats. Since the launch of the project in March 2023, we have sterilised over 2,774 community cats, and we are well on track to reach 3,000 by the end of September.
In addition to this achievement, we have recruited two new team members to aid our efforts on the islands: Isabel Borst, Communications, Engagement & Education Lead, and Eleni Michalodimitraki, Cat Counting & Monitoring Lead. Isabel and Eleni will join Flora Tsilaga, our Community Cat Care Project Coordinator, and Martina Guerra, our Community Cat Care Project Assistant, forming a dedicated team. Each member will play a key role in engaging with local residents, tourists, businesses, and authorities to create a brighter future for the islands’ cats.
On September 12th, our Chief Executive, Joseph Nhan-O’Reilly, visited the islands, where he held a productive meeting with all local animal welfare groups and team members to discuss our plans moving forward. Joseph was incredibly pleased with the progress made so far and the shared enthusiasm for future projects.
Joseph commented: “The commitment of local groups and partners is truly inspiring. Together, we’re building a sustainable future for the islands’ cats, ensuring they receive the care and protection they deserve. Our work here is a shining example of what can be achieved when we come together to solve the stray animal challenge.
“We want to support solutions like this for Greece’s millions of stray cats and dogs right across the country.”
One exciting new development is the creation of a dedicated microsite, accessible to both visitors and residents of Paros and Antiparos. This microsite will provide updates on our work and offer a system for reporting unneutered stray cats. While still in the design phase, we look forward to sharing more details as it comes to life.
All of our work is made possible by the unwavering support you, our incredible community of compassionate and generous animal lovers. We want to take this opportunity to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved. Your ongoing support is invaluable, and we look forward to keeping you updated on our progress as we continue this important work.
