A Cat Lover’s Reflections on a Trip to Hydra

We thank Derek Robins for all his help and care and for writing this beautiful article!

October 14, 2018

In early October, I visited Greece for the first time. It was a last-minute trip to the island of Hydra, taken at the recommendation of a friend. Given its proximity to Athens, no need for a car, and fewer tourists compared to the more famous islands, Hydra was a no-brainer. Although I was excited to learn about Greek culture and island life, little did I know my favorite part of the trip would be spending time with some wonderful cats and becoming involved with Hydra Ark.

On a Wednesday afternoon, I arrived on the island, greeted by sunny weather and dozens of healthy, happy cats strolling around near the harbor. Having at least two cats at home all my life, at first I was thrilled that I would be spending two days relaxing with Greek cats. However, in the following days, I would depart with a different view of feline life on the island and an unexpected mission.

The next day I went for a hike up Mt. Eros for its incredible views of the sea and surrounding islands. During the hike, as I moved further from the port, I noticed even more cats, but felt uneasy, as the cats’ conditions were worse than those I had been greeted by the day before. I suspected that since the tourists spend more time near the port feeding and caring for the cats there, those further from port received less attention. On the way up, I spent some time with the cats, talked with them and petted them, then continued with the hike.

On my way back down to the town below, I came upon a colony of at least 10 cats by the side of the road. While mixed in age (a couple older ones, some younger ones, and a few kittens) they were clearly related. After sitting down with these friendly and affectionate little guys for a few minutes, I noticed all of them looked skinny, hungry, and not especially healthy judging by the condition of their fur. I took particular note of a girl that had discharge coming from her nose which was causing difficulty breathing. In addition, I noticed that the eyes on some of the younger kittens looked crooked and unfocused, which I later learned was a condition passed down from one of the parents.

Feeling increasingly concerned and wanting to help the cat having nose congestion issues, I did some research about animal welfare on Hydra and found Hydra Ark, the primary non-profit group working to promote the wellbeing of all animals, and especially cats, on Hydra. I sent an email and met the following day with Christina Stamatakou, one of the key members of the organization. After describing what I had seen, I learned that I was not alone in my concerns and the issues I noted were known but difficult to combat. Christina shared that the biggest problem for the animals is the lack of a veterinary clinic on the island, which prevents cats from getting effective and timely treatment.

Over the next day and a half, I spent a good portion of my time walking around and checking on the situation of the island’s cats to get a better feel for their conditions. Unfortunately, despite my initial impression upon arriving, the reality of feline life on Hydra is a duality: cats living near the port are generally well fed (at least during the summer tourist season) and appear healthy, while the rest remain in less than optimal or even dire condition. Due to the lack of convenient veterinary care, overpopulation, and a culture of hands-off ownership, some cats are left sick, hungry, and uncared for.

Based on my overall impressions of Hydra and my experience having cats at home all my life, there are two main points I would like to stress about feline care and wellbeing, not just for Hydra, but in general:

First, I am a firm believer that if you are going to care for a cat, you must care 100%, nothing less. In many cases, giving less than 100% will just prolong suffering. Animals that are fed just enough to survive or that are sick but left untreated end up in a state of drawn-out suffering. Follow the golden rule and treat animals in your care the way you would like to be treated.

Second, if you are committed to taking care of one or more cats, they should be neutered to combat overpopulation. Overpopulation is a huge problem throughout the world, so much that in the United States alone it is estimated that over 1 million cats are euthanized every year simply because there are not enough homes to adopt them. (US National Kitten Coalition) Not only is neutering safe and effective for preventing reproduction, it also has the added benefits of reducing aggression and eliminating the chance for certain infections and cancers in those organs that were removed. (US ASPCA) It also prevents the passing down of certain serious medical conditions from parents to children.

Naturally, while I was saddened to see the situation on Hydra for some cats, at the same time, I am grateful and happy to know that Christina and other volunteers with Hydra Ark are working hard to improve the situation and have made significant progress in recent years. But don’t let them do it alone! If you are an animal lover and planning to visit Hydra, let Hydra Ark know in advance that you are coming and find out more about the organization. You can even ask if there are any sick animals that will need help being escorted between Athens and Hydra. When I departed Hydra for Athens, I was able to help a little boy named Amun get to the vet for treatment, and I have committed to helping the other cat I found with the nose condition to get to the clinic and find a home despite being back in the US. Even if you are in Hydra for only a day or two, you can make a difference!

If you do decide to become a member know that Hydra Ark is a non-profit organization highly dedicated to its mission. 100% of the donations made to Hydra Ark go directly to the animals for food, water, medical treatment, or anything else needed to provide the best conditions possible for the cats of Hydra. The organization runs an annual neutering/spaying program, tirelessly feeds colonies of cats across the island, promotes responsible pet ownership through educational programs at local schools, and organizes an annual three-day clinic for the island’s equines, which provides free veterinary, dental, and hoof care. They also bring a vet to the island at least once a year to visit the various cat colonies to perform health checks, give vaccinations, provide antiparasitic treatments, and deliver other medical care as required.

Thank you for reading, and let’s continue to make this world a better place for our feline friends.