It’s the middle of winter in Greece on the island of Kefalonia, cat colonies exist everywhere – beaches, villages and remote corners where life is hard and help is scarce. Their survival depends entirely on human compassion, yet here, kindness is seasonal.
Abandoned when the tourists leave after the summer, Kefalonia’s cats are left to fend for themselves and are forced to search for food on the streets. Credit: NFA
Hunger does not take a holiday.
During summer, more than 400,000 tourists visit this Ionian paradise. Many notice the cats living in these colonies, leaving food and showing care. But when the season ends, the tourists leave and the cats remain, confused and hungry. This is their home. They have nowhere else to go. To make matters worse, so many local people also leave and some villages are almost deserted. Even the rubbish bins are empty. The sudden absence of food and human attention leaves the cats vulnerable and every day without help puts their lives at risk.
As soon as the nourishing food appears, the cats gather quickly, their tiny paws and eager eyes showing just how much they depend on us. Credit: NFA
Thanks to our generous supporters, we make certain the cats are not forgotten. We are already working to control the street cat population through our spay and neuter program, and we feed and support more than 400 cats each month in colonies across 14 villages.
But the work can never stop. Many of these colonies are in remote areas, far from humans, restaurants or regular food. Without consistent support, sickness and starvation can spread quickly among the animals.
Weakened by hunger and lack of care, these cats are vulnerable to illness and disease, relying entirely on human help to survive. Credit: NFA
Every meal, every visit, every rescue is a lifeline.
Feeding alone is not enough. Hunger weakens these cats, leaving them vulnerable to illness, infection and injury. These cats cannot help themselves. They rely entirely on the volunteers to save them. Each intervention, no matter how small, has the power to change the course of a cat’s life.
Your gift today can provide:
- Food for entire feline colonies
- Emergency veterinary treatment
- Sterilizations to keep the numbers in check
- Feeding stations in isolated locations
- Fuel for rescues, feeding runs and vet visits
Without help, Kefalonia’s cats face hunger and hardship – your continued support makes all the difference. Credit: NFA
For these cats, there is no one else. With your support, hope lives.
Please give hope to Kefalonia’s cats before it’s too late. Your donation delivers food, medicine and lifesaving care to colonies that have nowhere else to turn.
