Stand by Amorgos cats - Animal Welfare on the Greek island of Amorgos

Read about animal welfare on the small Greek island of Amorgos https://gogetfunding.com/stand-by-amorgos-cats/  

Greek cats

A piece I wrote a few years ago about Greek cats - there seem to be even more animal lovers in Greece today!
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You can't get away from cats in Greece. They are everywhere. Leave the door of your room open, and you will probably have an uninvited feline visitor. Gangs of cats prowl around every taverna. They skulk around the harbour waiting for a fisherman to throw a fish or two their way. Many cats are sleek and look well nourished, sporting the latest in cat fashions around their necks. Photogenic cats grin at you from postcards and calendars. Yes, the Greeks have cottoned on to the money-spinning potential of cats.

It was not always thus. I first went to Greece about fifteen years ago. In those days I remember that apart from the few obvious pets, cats were skinny and malnourished. Their noses looked adenoidal. The toms and many of the females showed battle scars: flattened noses and cauliflower ears.

The Greeks have never been particularly good at rubbish disposal. Today rubbish in the islands is collected and dumped on a tip at the edge of town. Invariably the wind gets up and blows the rubbish about. Fifteen years ago the collection system was even less refined. Black bin-liners of rubbish were on most streets. It does not take long for a cat to claw its way into a rubbish bag. Many of these bags were split open. Cats ravaged the contents.

Even fifteen years ago some Greeks loved their cats. On my first trip to Amorgos a young Greek lady was taking her cat to the island in a cat basket. She was on the boat the next time I did the trip - with her cat. More and more Greeks are taking care of their cats. On one island I was sitting at the taverna eating my fish supper. Winter had not fully gone and the taverna had not gone into outdoor mode. The insides are not exactly cat free zones, but there are fewer cats inside. A Greek man, one of the regulars, came up to me with a piece of newspaper and said "Miaouw." His English was as fluent as my Greek. I soon cottoned on to the fact that he wanted my fish bones and heads for his cats. I willingly donated them

.

Sit at an outside table in a taverna, and soon there would be a paw, claws outstretched, scratching at your leg. These cats did not take 'no' for an answer. Some taverna owners tried (and still do) to keep cats out of doors. At one taverna the owner was notorious for not liking cats. Every so often she stamped her broom loudly on the floor. Every cat in the building fled. Even customers eating out of doors have been told off for feeding cats, although I have not seen her threaten a customer with a broom - yet. In Greece, the customer is not always right. The owner bustled out of the taverna door preceded by a flock of fleeing cats. The mere sight of her broom was enough to make the cats realise that

they were being swept out.

One year an outdoor taverna even had a cat waitress! I was given an empty plate to put my fish bones on and several times during my meal the waitress emptied it under a nearby tree. The cats knew this routine and were stalking in wait. Greek food is usually good, if you chose the right places to eat. One night the swordfish kebab tasted distinctly off. I threw it outside to the cats. The cats did not touch it. Sensible cats.

Sitting outdoors at breakfast one day recently I felt a thump on my knee. Completely uninvited a ginger cat had landed on my knee. Once arrived, I made her welcome - but never recalled having seen the cat before! One year a café owner had a small white kitten, a delicious bundle of fluff with brilliant blue eyes. The bundle of white fur was passed on from customer to customer as they left so that the kitten always had a lap to sit on. Spoilt rotten that kitten was.

Whenever I see a cat I stroke it. Some cats just run away. On one occasion I knelt down to pat a cat, which promptly put its paws around my neck and almost pulled me over. A very enthusiastic cat, that one. He must have had a good home. On the small island of Schinousa my landlady had a cat with a beautiful, gentle-natured temperament. The thuggish looking, battered old tom was her pride and joy. He was a really delightful cat and never scratched me once all the time we played together on the terrace.

Admittedly there are still some stray cats in Greece, but far less than there were a few years ago. The Greeks have realised that cats are not a nuisance but a tourist attraction.

Cats of Katapola Calendar 2014

Cats of Katapola Calendar 2014 by Susan Watkin (Calendar) — Lulu GB

A calendar with photos of cats from Katapola, on the island of Amorgos in Greece. I created this calendar for family and friends, but you may like it too!

 

Some of my recent photos of cats on the Greek island of Amorgos

I often go to the Greek island of Amorgos.  Here are some of my latest cat photos. 

Three staring kittens

Posing prettily!

 

AZI Cats Available for Adoption

AZI Cats Available for Adoption

Some Amorgos cats - Animal Zone International.

Naxos Cats - consider "virtual" adoption

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=471786902871357&set=o.166404540114310&type=1&theater

Cats of Katapola - October 2012

Cats of Katapola - October 2012

 

Cat Lit - my new book of cat photos and cat quotations

My new book Cat Lit:  A Selection of Cat Photos and Cat Quotations was published today.  I took the photos on the Greek island of Amorgos.

Cats of Katapola October 2012

A selection of my photos of cats in and around Katapola, Amorgos, in October 2012.

A pigeon amongst the cats - some photos of cats in Naxos, October 2012

http://www.facebook.com/#!/media/set/?set=a.4616978624769.191821.1301721739&type=1

Cat Lit - photos of cats and quotations about cats

Now that Kindles can show colour, I'll start an e book of my "Cat Lit" website.


http://www.catlit.wanadoo.co.uk/1214.htm

C was a lovely pussy cat

Its eyes were large and pale;

And on its back it had some stripes

And several on its tail.

Edward Lear

Aegean Cat

Until today I did not know that Aegean Cat was a cat breed, or an "embryo" cat breed!

A lot of Greek cats, like the one in this photo, have a very intelligent expression.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegean_cat

Cats of Katapola - February / March 2012

Cats of Katapola February / March 2012

I've been sorting through the photos I took on my last trip to Greece.  I'll be adding more photos to the album as I go along.

Enjoy!

Cats of Katapola Calendar 2012

I have published my Cats of Katapola calendar for 2012!

http://www.lulu.com/content/legacy-lulustudio-calendar/cats-of-katapola-2012/12186528

I have added previews of all the photos, so you can see all the cats without buying the calendar.  I'll be adding comments here about some of the cats, and the places in Katapola where I took the photos :-)

Cover cat

You can see a short video of the cover cat here (lap cat)

Kalo Taxidi - Greek Cats

Greek Cats
You can't get away from cats in Greece. They are everywhere. Leave the door of your room open, and you will probably have an uninvited feline visitor. Gangs of cats prowl around every taverna. They skulk around the harbour waiting for a fisherman to throw a fish or two their way. Many cats are sleek and look well nourished, sporting the latest in cat fashions around their necks. Photogenic cats grin at you from postcards and calendars. Yes, the Greeks have cottoned on to the money-spinning potential of cats.

It was not always thus. I first went to Greece in 1981. In those days I remember that apart from the few obvious pets, cats were skinny and malnourished. Their noses looked adenoidal. The toms and many of the females showed battle scars: flattened noses and cauliflower ears.

The Greeks have never been particularly good at rubbish disposal. Today rubbish in the islands is collected and dumped on a tip at the edge of town. Invariably the wind gets up and blows the rubbish about. Fifteen years ago the collection system was even less refined. Black bin-liners of rubbish were on most streets. It does not take long for a cat to claw its way into a rubbish bag. Many of these bags were split open. Cats ravaged the contents. [2011 update - I wrote this a few years ago. More recently I have seen modern refuse disposal vehicles in even small islands. But being cynical, the rubbish is now dumped at a central island dumping point, not near each village.]

Even in 1981 some Greeks loved their cats. On my first trip to Amorgos a young Greek lady was taking her cat to the island in a cat basket. She was on the boat the next time I did the trip - with her cat. More and more Greeks are taking care of their cats. On one island I was sitting at the taverna eating my fish supper. Winter had not fully gone and the taverna had not gone into outdoor mode. The insides are not exactly cat free zones, but there are fewer cats inside. A Greek man, one of the regulars, came up to me with a piece of newspaper and said "Miaouw." His English was as fluent as my Greek. I soon cottoned on to the fact that he wanted my fish bones and heads for his cats. I willingly donated them

Sit at an outside table in a taverna, and soon there would be a paw, claws outstretched, scratching at your leg. These cats did not take "no" for an answer. Some taverna owners tried (and still do) to keep cats out of doors. At one taverna the owner was notorious for not liking cats. Every so often she stamped her broom loudly on the floor. Every cat in the building fled. Even customers eating out of doors have been told off for feeding cats, although I have not seen her threaten a customer with a broom - yet. In Greece, the customer is not always right. The owner bustled out of the taverna door preceded by a flock of fleeing cats. The mere sight of her broom was enough to make the cats realise that they were being swept out.

One year an outdoor taverna even had a cat waitress! I was given an empty plate to put my fish bones on and several times during my meal the waitress emptied it under a nearby tree. The cats knew this routine and were stalking in wait. Greek food is usually good, if you chose the right places to eat. One night the swordfish kebab tasted distinctly off. I threw it outside to the cats. The cats did not touch it. Sensible cats.

Sitting outdoors at breakfast one day recently I felt a thump on my knee. Completely uninvited a ginger cat had landed on my knee. Once arrived, I made her welcome - but never recalled having seen the cat before! One year a café owner had a small white kitten, a delicious bundle of fluff with brilliant blue eyes. The bundle of white fur was passed on from customer to customer as they left so that the kitten always had a lap to sit on. Spoilt rotten that kitten was.

Whenever I see a cat I stroke it. Some cats just run away. On one occasion I knelt down to pat a cat, which promptly put its paws around my neck and almost pulled me over. A very enthusiastic cat, that one. He must have had a good home. On the small island of Schinoussa my landlady had a cat with a beautiful, gentle-natured temperament. The thuggish looking, battered old tom was her pride and joy. He was a really delightful cat and never scratched me once all the time we played together on the terrace.

Admittedly there are still some stray cats in Greece, but far fewer than there were a few years ago. Many Greeks have realised that cats are not a nuisance but a tourist attraction.

An extract from my book about Greece, "Kalo Taxidi".

Kalo Taxidi - Cat Food at To Mouragi in 1985

Cat Food at To Mouragi in 1985
On my first visit to Amorgos in 1985 I met two young Israelis who were horrified to find that they could not buy tomatoes in Katapola and intended catching the first boat out. It could be that, so early in the season, the shopkeepers had not stocked up with tourists in mind. I did not look for, nor notice the lack of, tomatoes on my first visit to Katapola. If something I wanted was not available I would have gone without, and remembered next time I was going somewhere where something I wanted was not likely to be available, to take some with me. Certainly in 1985 I recall being able to buy as much yoghurt in Katapola as I wanted. In Anaphi in May 1996 I found no yoghurt on sale. I advised some Germans I met on Kimolos who were keen on yoghurt for breakfast and heading to Anaphi to take some with them. As the season advances, the local shops are more likely to import items to meet the quirks of tourists. On Anaphi for breakfast I made do with bread (fresh) and honey (imported as a surplus I had bought on Amorgos, not because I knew none would be on sale locally). There were beehives on Anaphi - but I saw no honey for sale in shops. If I stayed longer I might have discovered where to buy honey locally, from the producer.

Only one taverna was open in Katapola in March 1985 (there were other tavernas, but they were not open so early in the year). Everyone, locals and the handful of tourists, crowded into the small inside eating area of To Mouragi. It was too cold and windy to sit outside. To Mouragi is still there, modernised with a new toilet room taking up some of the inside seating area, but otherwise much as it was before. In 1985 To Mouragi seemed to have the only public phone in the village, and there was a steady stream of people wanting to use it. I never tried ringing England from Amorgos in 1985, and doubt if it was possible. Today using the cardphone in the square I can get through to England right away. [2011 update - I now take a mobile phone!]

"Big fish, little fish, squid" was the choice at To Mouragi back in 1985, and very good fish they were too. We tourist girls were popular with the locals, as we donated all our surplus drink to their table. Yannis, a shepherd from up on Minoa was one of the regulars in To Mouragi. Now retired and living in Chora, I still see Yannis on most visits. [2011 update - I have not seen Yannis for many years. Yannis' old house is now a house for visiting archaeologists and part is laid out as a museum, an example of an old Amorgos country house.] The menu in To Mouragi very much depended on what the fishing boats or ferry had brought in. I did not usually eat lunch at the taverna, preferring to take a snack with me into the hills. One wet and windy day I lunched at To Mouragi and found beef stew on the menu. It was delicious (the more so because I had not tasted meat for so long) but had all gone by the evening.

A chill March evening in 1985. Tourists and locals were all huddled in To Mouragi, the only taverna open, plying our Greek friends (including old Yannis) with drink. In those days half a litre of retsina was too much for me. I was eating Big Fish or Little Fish and piling my fishbones onto a spare plate. A local came past with some newspaper (a rare commodity in Amorgos in those days) and stopped at my table. "Miaou," he said, looking at my pile of bones. What more was needed! I hope his cats enjoyed their dinner.

Once watching TV at Mouragi I saw the weather forecast, and when I saw the numbers 9 and 10 dotted about the map I thought that the weather was about to become less chilly. Then I realised that the numbers were wind speeds (this was not long before the Marianna did not run on April 1).

On my second trip to Amorgos in 1990 the first thing I noticed was the wide range of fruit and vegetables on sale. Boxes full of colourful produce were displayed outside each of the three grocery shops by the harbour. The kiwi fruit in particular caught my eye. Not that I had any intention of buying Kiwi fruit, I was just interested to note that they were on sale. No one could catch the first boat out now because of the lack of tomatoes. Large and juicy beef tomatoes (so much more tasty than the tomatoes on sale in England) were outside every shop.


An extract from my book about Greece, "Kalo Taxidi".

Kalo Taxidi - Andros Café Cats

An extract from my book "Kalo Taxidi"



Andros Café Cats

One day when I was sitting at the café in the square outside the museum the cats began to sing, and made me think of the music thought originally (but not now) to be by Rossini. I had heard the song sung at the previous year’s last night of the Proms. That mock spitefulness - the cats were just right! Another cat arrived and they caterwauled. Quite cute - both wailed - rubbed - or nearly rubbed - noses; then put one ear near the other's ear. A person wearing a stripy long jumper at the neighbouring bar came across and looked, fascinated, as I was. Then a chap came out of the bar and said in good English "Stop that noise, you cats." The cats obviously spoke English, understood, and departed.

The cats (in Andros Chora in general, not just at the taverna) were all so healthy that I wondered if a shipping magnate had endowed a vet and paid for all the necessary treatments. There were lots of well-fed cats. Down one back street I saw a pot (an old handleless frying pan) full of water and another of full cat biscuits. One cat pulled a biscuit out of the pot with his paw, so carefully, then ate it. The fastest things in the vehicle-free Chora are on four legs.


An extract from my book "Kalo Taxidi"

Kittens

Two kittens photographed in Katapola, Amorgos.

http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/photo?album_id=831429627&photo_id=3093691797#3093691797

Cats around Katapola in July 2011

A selection of photos of cats mostly in and around Katapola, with some from Chora and elsewhere.

Cats Around Katapola in May 2011

These are some of the photos I took of cats in and around Katapola in May 2011.