As you may know by now, the cats in Thessaloniki are a staple of urban life here! These little critters roam the streets day in and day out, walking amongst us in convenience stores or joining us for dinner. But this furry population is not just specific to Thessaloniki; there are about three million cats that can be spotted in almost every nook and cranny throughout Greece’s mainland and over two hundred inhabited islands.
These kitties look just like the ones in America! They walk on four legs, have whiskers, piercing eyes and purr the most adorable purrs.
When I saw my first cat, I was getting a tour of our neighborhood, and as we turned the corner from the mini-market we saw one perched up on some building steps. I actually didn’t think much of it since it was my first day and I was really jet-lagged after traveling for almost twenty-four hours straight. But as I have seen more and more throughout my time here, I have learned to savor my time with these little animals. They can be really friendly, for the most part, but every now and then you stumble across some that don’t want to be disturbed and hiss when you come close.
