Introduction
Many people who come to visit or live in southern Mediterranean countries such as Greece are aware of the problems of over population of cats, but may not realize that most cats are not owned. The word in Greek is adespotos – meaning ownerless/stray. It is not unusual to see cats on the street which are pedigree or mixed breed, and this is because even though some people do own cats, they rarely neuter them and so they are regularly having kittens. These are given away or allowed to roam. The kittens are not neutered, and so later they too contribute to the problem and the numbers of cats on the streets continue to escalate. It is said that, left unchecked, 1 female cat and her offspring will give birth to 10,000 cats in 6 years!
Zoom and enhanced
Zoom and enhanced
Voice of the Cats Alliance (VOCAL) was set up in Elounda by Virginia Swain-Dixon in 2005 and has been working for 4 years; in July 2009 it became a not for profit organization (sylogos). VOCAL was formed to help tackle over population of cats in Elounda and surrounding villages and the resultant problems that this brings. Traditional ways of dealing with over population include, poisoning, putting kittens in plastic bags and throwing into dustbins to die, drowning or taking to other places and dumping. However when colonies grow unchecked in-breeding is inevitable, resulting in sickness and weak genetic stock. Also, large colonies of cats cannot get enough food to maintain them, so the weaker ones are more likely to suffer and die. A balance must be found!
VOCAL has succeeded with local people to keep a stable and healthy population of cats in the area. Cats that are strong, not starving and free of debilitating parasites and illness will have more energy and inclination to kill rats and mice, and will be more effective in doing so!
VOCAL also acts as a care and rescue organization. We take in orphaned or dumped kittens that would otherwise die, and hand-rear them. We respond where possible to adult cats in need on the street, when they have had an accident or are ill. We do not have a shelter. Volunteers care for cats in their own home. We work with similar organizations in other parts of Europe to find homes for kittens and older cats that cannot survive on the street. We only work with organizations that follow a strict code of practice for homing, including home checks, contracts and follow up visits. Our cats either go to foster homes in the new country or directly to a permanent home. No cat from VOCAL goes to an overseas shelter. We keep records of where the cats go to and we are regularly sent photographs of cats with their new families.
Despite all our good work we are increasingly frustrated in our efforts by lack of volunteers and funding. To this end, VOCAL has had to change and adapt its role and will help to facilitate others to carry out cat welfare in their own area. We can support individuals and groups with loan of equipment, experience, training, advice etc., and welcome enquiries from people who wish to help cat colonies in their own area.
VOCAL volunteers have worked with cats for many years – often in their own country before moving to Crete, and have built up a fund of knowledge that can be usefully passed on to others who have cats of their own, or who care for cats in their own community. Help and support is also available to those who befriend a cat or kitten and wish to give it a loving and permanent home, either here or in other parts of Europe. Help and advice is free, but the group is glad of and in need of reciprocation in the form of donations – the donation (however small) might be time and energy or money. To visit or live on this island is an immense pleasure; lets help to make it more so. Let us make it more of a satisfying and memorable experience by supporting the cats in their environment, and by helping to alleviate the sickness and suffering that we frequently witness around us.
VOCAL volunteers have worked with cats for many years – often in their own country before moving to Crete, and have built up a fund of knowledge that can be usefully passed on to others who have cats of their own, or who care for cats in their own community. Help and support is also available to those who befriend a cat or kitten and wish to give it a loving and permanent home, either here or in other parts of Europe. Help and advice is free, but the group is glad of and in need of reciprocation in the form of donations – the donation (however small) might be time and energy or money. To visit or live on this island is an immense pleasure; lets help to make it more so. Let us make it more of a satisfying and memorable experience by supporting the cats in their environment, and by helping to alleviate the sickness and suffering that we frequently witness around us.
A typical place where cats are fed and monitored
A female can be released 24-36 hours after being neutered
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