Who is behind the name "ThassosCats" and what are we doing?
At first: Who we are
Karen
Karen is a Greek woman with British roots who has been living on Thassos for decades and runs a hotel there
Dimitar
n.n.
Anais
Anais is a student from Thassos
All our Supporters!
We can’t do this alone — and we are so glad we don’t have to. We may be the persons on the ground doing the work, but we are doing this together. And together, we really can make a difference.
What we are doing
The ‘sweet life’ is deceptive: Why we must take a closer look
White houses, blue sea and a cat dozing picturesquely in the sun on a stone wall – everyone is familiar with this postcard idyll. Yet behind the beautiful holiday photos lies a harsh reality: The life of an unneutered stray cat in the south is not a relaxing adventure, but an extremely short, grueling struggle for survival that usually ends after less than three years.
The vicious circle of reproduction and hunger
The mild climate means that unneutered female cats give birth up to three times a year – a constant biological strain that completely exhausts the mothers. Male cats become embroiled in fierce territorial battles, during which diseases such as feline AIDS spread rapidly. By winter at the latest, when the tourists leave and the tavernas close, food sources dry up. The result is widespread misery. Simply feeding them in summer may alleviate their hunger for the moment, but ultimately leads to even more suffering among the offspring.
Our solution:
- TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return)
We specifically trap unneutered stray cats. They are neutered, treated for parasites and given medical care where necessary. Once they have recovered, we release them back into their familiar territory. This is the only way to permanently stop uncontrolled breeding. We try to integrate animals that, for medical reasons, would no longer be able to cope on their own into our more sheltered cat enclosures.
- Supervised feeding stations
This is precisely where our work begins. We do not want to merely manage the suffering, but tackle it at its root. That is why we run and support supervised feeding stations, which are far more than just a place to eat. They are the key to a healthy life for cats:- Targeted neutering: We break the cycle of uncontrolled reproduction in the long term.
- Medical care: We provide veterinary treatment for injured or sick animals and protect them against parasites.
- Monitoring: Through daily on-site care we keep an eye on every animal and can intervene immediately in emergencies.
- Medical help for cats in need: Our care does not end after neutering. When sick or injured cats are reported to us or we discover them, we help – regardless of whether the animal has already been neutered or not. Here too, the treated animals are released back into their familiar surroundings.
With this system, we create a controlled, healthy population and give the animals a real chance of a safe and long life.
Please support us in making this picture-postcard idyll a reality for the cats!