Around Athens (and indeed, all of Greece), there are a lot of stray cats. This seems to have been the case for many years now, and although there is a good relationship between the people of Athens and their feline friends, people do recognize the need for steps to keep the number of cats in check. I’ve gotten involved with one group making an effort to do just this, which has been an incredible experience.
On my very first day in Greece, I noticed the number of stray cats hanging around Athens. As I rode from the airport to my new house, I saw cats roaming the sidewalks, basking in the sun, and even sitting on the seats of parked motorcycles! As I was unpacking my things, one came right up to my bedroom window. Every day since, I’ve seen at least one cat (and often it’s many more). There are a number of reasons for the excess of stray cats on the streets of Athens, but in general, people don’t mind them. It’s common to see bowls of water and even some food left out on porches for the cats, and neighborhoods often collectively “adopt” cats and watch out for their welfare. With that being said, though, there is a need to manage the cat population: it ensures diseases aren’t spread and ecological balance isn’t disrupted by the cats killing birds and other small animals to eat.
