Cats are everywhere in Greece, whether roaming the streets, napping in the shade or hanging about restaurants for leftovers.

They have become a spectacle for tourists in themselves. Most cats in Greece are strays, but they need the help of humans to survive. Greece is promising to them because of good weather, no harsh winters and the fact that they are free to scavenge. People provide food and water for stray cats which allows them to live comfortably.

On Greek streets, the sporadic plastic bowl brimming with water can be found. Though they are not domesticated, stray cats’ presence is accepted by humans. As with wildcats, they mark out their own territory and tend to hang around specific areas where humans take care of them.

Greece has one of the largest stray cat and dog populations in the world. Animal rights groups estimate that there are 2 million. Greece has put forward legislation in a bid to neuter strays, however many attempts have received widespread criticism. A large majority of stray cats and dogs are still not neutered so numbers keep growing, despite government efforts.

To highlight the issue, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, adopted his own stray dog. Not just Mitsotakis, but many other Greeks also tend adopt stray animals. According to GFK, 38% of Greek households have pets, the vast majority being cats and dogs. The highest percentage of pet ownership in Greece is in the capital city of Athens, primarily due to locals adopting them. In most instances, cat and dog owners tend to have simply domesticated strays. 

Last year, Netflix produced a series called ‘Cat People’. One of the episodes follows a couple’s move to a Greek island - Syros, in order to create a cat sanctuary. This has created worldwide awareness and awe, inspiring others to follow suit.