Cats are part of Cyprus’s landscape and history, but their tourist charm has become a difficult problem to manage. The Government has increased the budget for sterilizations, in an attempt to stop a feline population that is growing out of control.
There are more cats than people in and the tourist charm begins to turn into a management problem that prompted a debate in Parliament. After the political discussion, the Government announced an increase in the budget for sterilizations, but experts warn: money alone is not enough, there needs to be a real action plan.
On Alethriko, as on almost the entire island, cats are part of the landscape. They sleep on walls, roam the streets and even share restaurant tables with tourists. Authorities estimate that there is at least one stray cat for every inhabitant – around a million – but experts guarantee that the real number is much higher.
The bond between Cypriots and cats is ancestral. 9,500 years ago, long before ancient Egypt, they already lived side by side. A tomb discovered on the island revealed the skeletons of a human and a cat buried together.
According to legend, it was Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, who brought felines to the island to combat plagues of snakes and rodents. The São Nicolau dos Gatos monastery, founded at that time, still houses hundreds of animals today.
From historical heritage to current problem
Over the years, coexistence became a challenge. The Cypriot Parliament recently recognized that the current sterilization program is insufficient. With only two thousand surgeries per year and a budget of 100 thousand euros, the measure did not keep up with the pace of reproduction.
After the debate, the Minister of the Environment, Maria Panayiotou, announced an increase in funding to 300 thousand euros per year. The decision was well received, but experts warn that money will not solve the problem.
“The budget, whether it is 100 thousand or 300 thousand euros, if they continue to do what they have done in the last two years, it will be a difficult situation”, warns Elias Demetriou, director of the shelter. “The money is given to local authorities with no experience in the area. Part of it remains unused and, sometimes, even already sterilized cats are collected”, adds Demetriou, in an interview with .
“The magic word is management”
The Commissioner for Environment and Animal Welfare, Antonia Theodosiou, emphasizes that “the magic word is management”. His office presented a strategic plan that proposes a rigorous count of the feline population, public mass sterilization programs and the licensing of private shelters.
“We are talking about supporting the dignified functioning of these shelters and creating a coordinated system”, he explained.
In addition to the environmental impact as stray cats threaten native species, overpopulation also raises animal welfare issues. Many live on the streets, without veterinary care, and depend on the good will of volunteers and tourists.
History and culture explain Cypriots’ fascination with cats, but the future will demand something more than affection. As one of the parliamentary officials summarized: “If we want to solve the problem, we need a plan and not just money.”
