A feral cat is a wild outdoor cat that is wary of human contact. Most feral cats live without human contact for a long period of time, or they grow without socialization to humans as kittens, feral cats are extremely frightened and suspicious of humans. These forgotten felines eventually start congregating in one place and form a “colony.”

We are a small group of animal lovers who have got together in Limassol Cyprus to trap, neuter and return feral cats.

Funds are raised to help with the cost of spaying and neutering by selling unwanted goods at boot sales and by holding social gatherings, such as quizzes, coffee mornings, line dancing, raffles, and psychic fairs. Donations also provide us with much needed funds. We are unable to assist in spaying and neutering pet / domesticed stray cats.

Since forming in June 2006 we have concentrated on colonies with six or more cats. Occasionally we trap cats that are injured, and these have to be treated by our vet before being released back to their capture point after recovery.  Listed below are some examples of the work we do. We now work with over 40 colonies and their helpers both in Limassol and on RAF Akrotiri and Episkopi Garrison.

We urgently need additional volunteers to help us trap cats and funds to maintain our current level of spaying and neutering every month.

Eden Beach Apartments

Located close to the sea front in Limassol a colony of about 28 cats were living in and around the rubbish bins. Guests and hotel staff used to provide leftovers from breakfast, and a kindly Cypriot lady fed the cats with biscuits most mornings.

We spayed 15 females and neutered 13 males from July 2006. The apartments have now closed for redevelopment and most of the cats have disappeared.

May 2008 Update. The colony is much reduced with less than a dozen cats in the area since the Hotel closed.  Mary a local Cypriot continues to feed the cats and we have spayed another 2 males and 2 females in the last few days.  Mary believes their area about 3 more to spay or neuter and we will attempt to catch them soon.

The Wide Seafront Promenade

Heading from the Catholic church towards the Old Port are dozens of cats and kittens that have either been born there or been abandoned by thoughtless owners. Over the years a number of cats have been spayed or neutered, however the majority have not.

It is impossible to say how many cats there are on this stretch of seafont. In the past it exceeded 100 cats, but current observations suggest the number is less than 50 of which most are spayed or neutered.

Most of the cats are people friendly and know who to approach and who to avoid. Some appear to be tame enough to pick up, but this is not always true so our traps are used.

We have spayed 102 females and neutered 50 males from this area, and this has assisted in keeping the numbers in check.  Unfortunately a number of cats succumb to the traffic and this is another significasnt reason for the lower numbers..

Along by the tourist section...

We concentrated on a small colony living at the Atlantic Gardens Self Catering apartments.  During March to May 2007 we caught  five males and ten females.  Cats are very welcome at this complex by staff and tourists and it is important to keep the numbers down to maintain a healthy life style for them.

Regular visits are made to make sure that no unsterlised cats join the colony.

Pentakomo

Situated just outside of Limassol's beach front is the the village of Pentakomo. Here Dimitri and his wife feed a colony of around 22 cats, that have accumulated on some waste ground just behind the restaurant. Catsnip have spayed all 22 cats and we keep in touch to see if any new cats have joined the colony.