Stray Cats In Athens: Everything You Need To Know
If you’ve been to Athens or you’re just in the early stages of researching the city for your next trip, then you’ll likely have seen that the city has a bit of a stray cat epidemic.
Stray cats in Athens are pretty much everywhere, and you’ll likely spot several of them every single day, with many of them sticking together in small groups.
If you’re a cat lover, it’s easy to get really entranced by these little souls, and they will befriend you very quickly.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know about stray cats in Athens, including whether or not you should interact with them and how you can help them. Read on to become an Athens stray cat whizz!
Why Are There So Many Stray Cats in Athens?
Neutering animals is not as common in Greece as it is in many other European countries and is not considered a high-priority procedure for stray cats, especially considering its cost. This has led to a rapid population growth throughout the city.
The climate being warm all year round also causes the population to skyrocket, with cats falling pregnant a lot more often due to the warmer weather, whereas in lots of other Western countries, cats often have kittens in the spring and summer only.
Cats can also get pregnant multiple times a year due to their gestation spans, also contributing to the problem!
Athens’ layout could also contribute to the large stray population as there are so many hidey holes and places to shelter. Cats will breed pretty much anywhere but prefer quiet, private spaces and will instinctively also seek these spaces to give birth to their kittens.
There has definitely been a shift in the treatment of stray cats in Athens over the past number of years, with more and more programmes and organisations being developed to help reduce the stray cat population, but more can still be done.
Can You Pet Stray Cats In Athens?
The short answer to this question is generally yes, you can pet the stray cats that you see wandering about the city of Athens. However, you do need to exercise caution and only pet cats that seem to be receptive to human affection.
On the whole, the locals are quite kind to the cats in the city, and you’ll likely see them petting the cats and kittens or feeding them. Additionally, you might see welfare workers intervening and offering the cats something to eat.
Their cute appearance will likely entice you to pet them or feed the cats and kittens you encounter while visiting Athens, so knowing that you can is good news!
However, it’s important to observe the cats closely before attempting to stroke them.
Lots of the cats in Athens may not want any human interaction, becoming quite feisty if you make an attempt to get quite close to them. If you think that a cat may attempt to strike at you with its claws, then you should back away immediately, but slowly.
Some body language signs that you should look out for when trying to tell if a cat is friendly include them rubbing against your legs, purring or meowing, or lying down nearby with no defensive signals like a twitching tail or angled fur.
If a cat hisses, growls, or backs away, it’s best to respect its boundaries and admire it from a distance.
The vast majority of stray cats in Athens are excited by human interaction and attention. They have mastered the art of begging and often appear by your side out of nowhere, especially when there is food up for grabs!
While feeding them can also be a rewarding experience, you should stick to cat-friendly foods rather than giving them scraps of human food, which might upset their stomachs. You’ll likely find some cat treats or food pouches in a local corner shop for a couple of euros.
Remember, above everything, your safety should be your first priority, and if you feel unsettled about approaching any cat or feel that they might be carrying fleas or a disease, then stay away as best as you can.
Make sure to wash your hands after touching stray cats and kittens in Athens, and in any city, in fact, and avoid touching any open wounds or allowing cats to lick you.
Are Stray Cats In Athens Safe?
While a guarantee for all of the cats across Athens isn’t possible, it’s good to know that most stray cats are just a bit dirty from living on the streets and are unlikely to be carrying any disease.
However, while they are generally considered pretty harmless, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t exercise any caution when interacting with them.
Many of the cats in Athens are well-fed, thanks to the kindness of locals and visitors. But you may see some with minor injuries or scars from fighting with other cats.
Rabies is one of the main concerns for travellers when it comes to stray animals, however, the disease is not common in Greece and is even more unlikely to be found in cities. This is very good news for those who like to interact with cats!
Although most of the cats in Athens are unlikely to be dangerously ill, some do carry fleas, ticks, or other parasites. These pests are not only uncomfortable for the cats, but they can also cause some nasty symptoms if they transfer to humans.
Flea bites can be itchy and bothersome, and in rare cases, they may carry bacteria that can cause infections. If you choose to pet a stray cat, it’s best to wash your hands thoroughly afterwards and avoid touching your face.
If you’d like to be extra careful, then you may consider using insect repellent or wearing long clothing to minimise your chance of exposure to the pests.
If you think you may have touched a cat that has fleas, then you should wash all of your clothes when you get back to your accommodation. If you don’t have access to a washing machine, then make sure to bag them up separately from everything else in your luggage.
While it’s unlikely that a friendly cat will scratch or bite, accidents can happen. If you do get scratched or bitten by a stray cat in Athens, make sure to clean the wound immediately and keep an eye on it for signs of infection. Applying an antiseptic cream can also help to flush out bacteria.
How To Help Stray Cats In Athens
If the stray cats in Athens really touch your heart while visiting the city, and you’d like to try and help them, there are several ways you can make a difference.
One option would be to donate to local animal welfare charities in Greece, which work to help provide food and medical care to stray cats. Donations help to ensure that they can access long-term support.
Nine Lives Greece is one charity which you may wish to consider donating to. Nine Lives is a charity solely dedicated to reducing the stray cat overpopulation issue in the country by capturing cats for neutering.
If you would like to feed the cats, then opt for plain meat or buy some cat food or treats to leave out for them. You’ll see the locals feeding the cats scraps of pretty much anything, however, it’s best to stick to foods specifically for them. Cat food will also keep them much fuller for longer.
Stray Dogs In Athens
Sadly, Athens also has a significant stray dog problem. There are thousands of stray dogs on the streets of the city, surviving almost solely on the scraps of tourists and locals.
However, whether they are really stray or not is a good question. A number of the dogs you’ll see roaming the streets are actually people’s pets that they allow to explore the city while they go about their day!
Stray cats and dogs in Athens are considered property of the municipality and therefore their responsibility to manage. Stray dogs are well taken care of by the City of Athens with a programme in operation which provides microchipping, neutering, healthcare checks and food.
This newer programme, brought about by the activism of animal lovers in Athens, is much more humane. Until 2003, the city of Athens operated a rather cruel program of rounding up stray dogs, placing them for adoption and sadly destroying those that did not find a home within 90 days.
Most of the dogs are very well-behaved and streetwise in Athens and you’ll find that the vast majority are happy to say hello and be stroked. Give them some food if you can, these poor pups have it just as hard as Athens’ stray cats – meat and plain vegetables are best!
FAQ
Should you pet the stray cats in Greece?
Petting stray cats in Greece is generally seen as safe, but you should still make sure to wash your hands after you have. The vast majority of stray cats in Athens do not carry disease however, some may carry fleas, so do exercise caution when approaching them!
Are you allowed to feed stray cats in Greece?
Yes, feeding stray cats in Greece is allowed and can go a long way in keeping the cats healthy. However, if you do choose to feed them, then make sure to opt for cat-specific foods and treats rather than scraps.
Can you take home a stray cat from Greece?
Yes. You can take home stray cats from Greece, but there are several steps you must adhere to to do it legally and safely, including applying to the municipality for permission to own the cat, getting a microchip and vaccines and applying for a pet passport.
Stray Cats in Greece – A summary
In conclusion, you’re unlikely to wander very far around Athens and not stumble across a few stray cats – they’re pretty much everywhere in the city!
These poor souls are generally pretty harmless and often like some human attention, so if you’d like to, then giving them some fuss or a handful of food would go a long way!
As with any stray animal, however, do make sure to exercise some caution and keep your distance from any cat that looks like it may get aggressive or could be carrying fleas.
If you’d like to help out the stray cats that you meet on the streets, then you could opt to donate some money to a local charity or vet clinic too!
