The Cat Island

Estimated 1.5 million stray cats (population 1.2 million). More cats than people. Everywhere: parking lots, restaurants, beaches, ruins, your doorstep. Legend: St Helena brought cats from Egypt in 4th century. For expats: fascinating, heartwarming, sometimes overwhelming.

How to Deal

Feed once: they return daily (with friends). Decide consciously. TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return): most humane solution. Cyprus Cat Society helps. Adoption: vet check €30-50, vaccines €40-60, neutering €80-150. Never poison/harm: criminal and socially condemned.

This was exactly our experience: The Cat Island Estimated 1.5 million stray cats (population 1.2 million). More cats than people. Everywhere: parking lots, restaurants, beaches, ruins, your doorstep. Legend: St Helena brought cats...

– Dog owner from Bonn, in Paphos since 2022

Cat Culture

Cypriots: ambivalent (tolerate, feed, but not always pets). Attitude changing: more neutering, adoptions, growing animal welfare. Cat lovers: the island is paradise. Cat skeptics: a challenge. The cats are here to stay.

Stray Cats in Cyprus

Topics: The Cat Island, How to Deal, Cat Culture

CMC Practical Tip

The Cat Island Estimated 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why so many cats?

Mild climate, sufficient food, decades of insufficient neutering. TNR helps but enormous task.

Should I feed stray cats?

If committed long-term: yes. If not: no guilt. If feeding: also support TNR (neuter the cats you feed).

Can I adopt a stray?

Yes, encouraged. Vet+vaccines+neutering: €150-250 total. Shelters: pre-neutered cats (€50-100 adoption fee).

Are strays sick?

Some – FeLV/FIV prevalent. Own cat: don't let out unprotected. Adopted strays: vet test recommended (€10-20). Most healthy-looking strays: healthy.

How CMC Supports You

At CMC Certus Management Consultants, we are here for you – not only for tax and legal questions, but also for all practical topics of everyday life in Cyprus. Our team in Larnaca and Pafos knows the local conditions first-hand.

As your local contact, we handle: company formation and management, tax advisory and Non-Dom applications, ongoing bookkeeping and tax returns, support with authorities, and referrals to estate agents, lawyers, doctors and tradespeople.

Further Reading