Got back from Rhodes on the 8th August and had a good holiday. I was though told off by several people for feeding the stray cats. I was upset to see how many cats and kittens were near starving on the Island. Locals would sometimes leave a bucket of water but these cats were drinking from the swimming pool and some were in a terrible state with severed tails etc.. I bought dry food from the local supermarket and left little piles wherever it was safe.

These little cats were considered by some locals as vermin! Although I feel that I have shown a little kindness; I do feel guilty that I didn't stroke the kittens even though they came quite close. (I was afraid that I'd bring something home to infect Gus and Pixie)
Although I don't care about being told off; I'm curious to find out whether others would do the same or could it be justified to walk away?

They like to let the cats take out the rats etc. Sad fact too, as some islands become like ghost towns in the winter, they tend to kill off the kittens on purpose. Cats in countries like greece are over run by strays, some are ferals, some are just tossed out from homes.

You can't win but least you were kind enough to feed them.

The stray cats are good for the cypriot nature, well as in that they keep the population of the black snake down and centerpeads, spiders and occasionally roaches. But there are that many strays that you get lots living around streets. Problem being is that locals put poison down to kill the strays but a domesticated cat doesn't know the difference and will eat the poisoned food, same goes for dogs. I just don't think Cypriots have animal attachments like we do in the UK.

Part of the problem is that in some areas, feral cats are a legitimate problem that are ruining entire ecosystems... They are an exotic species, and large feral colonies can do as much damage as a large introduction of any other foreign animal.

Kind of off topic but our tarantula shed for the first time yesterday /cheer It was very cool, although frightened the life out of me when I came home and she was on her back with her legs in the air!

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Lollo

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Lollo

Majority of strays in cyprus are feral, be it that maybe 2 or 3 generations down they were domestic but eventually they become feral. The Turkish Van is native to Cyprus and come from there (i think). Anyway, there is a black snake that is dangerous and 3 types on centerpeads that are dangerous. As Cyprus has a poor welfare system, if you are bitten, you need to know the exact species and not many kids know. There is a dangerous spider out there too, along with several scorpions (many of the tiny ones) and a see-through type mini lizard that can cause harm.

All of these creatures are not dangerous to the feral cats and help to control what is about. If it meant having a stray in the area munch on the nasties to save me and my 2 kids being put into A&E due to one of these insects/snakes etc, then I'm all for feral.

There are rescue places that run on their own monies, they are not government run, the gov wants nothing to do with them. Cyprus is an evil country when it comes to animals, they have no worries about putting an animal down, the police are more than happy to unload a gun on say a stray cat or dog. I know of a couple of rescue places that went on a big drive to get strays/Feral cats spayed etc.

Every country is a lot different to our own that we live in, people shouldn't be too quick to judge.