The Greek island of Ithaca is famous as the home of the legendary Greek hero Odysseus, but on Ithaca today there are very few heroes for the thousands of homeless cats who have been left to breed unchecked, creating a street cat crisis.
There is no vet or veterinary clinic on the entire island, so it is up to us and a handful of dedicated local volunteers to break the tragic cycle of birth, misery and death – and today, we have a critical opportunity to really make a difference for these suffering creatures.
Supporters like you already helped us sterilize 100 of the island’s street cats – but this is just the beginning, there are still kittens being born into suffering every day.
On the streets of Ithaca, countless cats suffer in silence – victims of hunger, untreated injuries and preventable disease. Credit: Volunteers of Argos Ithaki
The neglected cats of Ithaca need your help right away.
Fewer than 3,000 people live on the island, and that number is dropping as young people leave to find jobs elsewhere. This makes the situation for the cats ever more serious as there are fewer and fewer people who care about them. Without our help, there could be a serious escalation of suffering.
Earlier this year, we launched a vital trap-neuter-return (TNR) campaign. With support from animal-lovers like you, we brought in an expert vet and sterilized 100 cats, preventing hundreds of unwanted kittens from being born in the streets.
Now is the time to act again to stop another wave of suffering.
Unless we can sterilize more cats, hundreds of kittens will be forced into short, miserable lives.
This street cat in Ithaca shows visible signs of aggressive cancer, reflecting the harsh reality faced by many street cats on the island. We immediately began treatment for the poor creature and we are hopeful that she will make a full recovery. Credit: Volunteers of Argos Ithaki
Pelazi was born with feline AIDS and is blind as a result. She was found dying alone in a trash bin, where someone had cruelly discarded her. We are fighting to save her life. Credit: Volunteers of Argos Ithaki
One can’t help wondering what Odysseus would think of his descendants’ lack of concern for helpless creatures, born on unforgiving streets, scrounging for scraps to eat and fighting off starvation and disease. We think he would be outraged, but the truth is without our help, this tragedy will play out hundreds of times across this otherwise idyllic island.
We can stop this suffering from happening – but to do it, we need your help.
Starving cats roam Ithaca’s streets, struggling each day to find food – thankfully, our team was able to provide temporary relief. Credit: Volunteers of Argos Ithaki
Our vet is ready to make the trip to the island as soon as we can raise the funds required. The more you give, the more animals we can treat and sterilize, preventing countless kittens from suffering.
Your support today isn’t just a donation; it’s the hope of a pain-free future for Ithaca’s street cats.
