During 2025, our charity managed numerous emergency rescues involving critically ill cats. Many cases required intensive veterinary care, long-term treatment, and difficult ethical decisions to prevent suffering. This report highlights representative cases that reflect both the challenges faced and the impact of timely intervention.
Ville Valo – Severe Bacterial Infection (February 2025)
Ville Valo was admitted on 04/02/2025 in critical condition, suffering from extreme pain, starvation, lethargy, dehydration, diarrhea, and severe bilateral purulent otitis. He was approximately 7 months old, male, unchipped, and unneutered. Blood tests revealed anemia and lymphocytosis, while organ function remained normal. Further investigation confirmed otitis interna originating from an untreated middle ear infection. Bacteria had entered the bloodstream, causing bacteremia and toxic shock syndrome, a life-threatening condition with high mortality. All major infectious diseases (FeLV, FIV, Bartonella, ANA) were ruled out. Thanks to early intervention and three weeks of intensive treatment, Ville Valo made a full recovery and is now a healthy, playful young cat. He has been adopted, neutered, microchipped, and renamed Kimon by our volunteer Christina. His name is after Kimon, who was with Christina when he was found in poor condition at Vlychos beach. The total cost of care was €446.40 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Scot – Chronic Neglect & Anemia (June–November 2025)
Scot was an approximately 10-year-old male, neutered, and unchipped, found in an extremely neglected state: severely underweight, poor coat condition, multiple wounds, otitis, and anemia. Despite this, initial biochemistry showed normal liver and kidney function, offering hope. Further bloodwork indicated moderately regenerative iron-deficiency anemia, autoagglutination suggesting immune involvement, and signs of chronic inflammation. Treatment included antibiotics and immunosuppressive therapy, with initial improvement. By July, Scot regained strength and energy, though coat regeneration remained slow and required supplementation. Sadly, by November 2025, his condition deteriorated dramatically. A hematocrit of 8% indicated irreversible disease, and he passed away despite all efforts to save him. The total cost of care was €496 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Toulis – FIV Positive with Severe Stomatitis (July 2025)
Toulis was diagnosed as FIV positive with severe stomatitis. He was approximately 8 years old, male, weighing 3.7 kg. Multiple teeth were extracted. Blood tests showed inflammation, anemia, and early kidney dysfunction. He requires ongoing supportive care and monitoring. Toulis returned to his colony and is currently in good shape, running free at the port under the supervision of a volunteer. The total cost of care was €352.43 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Ricco – Systemic FIP & Liver Failure (October 2025)
Ricco presented dehydrated, jaundiced, and underweight. Testing confirmed FIV positive and systemic FIP with severe hepatic involvement. Despite intensive supportive care, including IV fluids, liver support, antibiotics, and anti-inflammatory treatment, his condition progressively worsened, with rising leukocytosis, falling hematocrit and platelets, and progressive liver failure. Multiple reassessments confirmed a guarded to poor prognosis with declining quality of life. Humane euthanasia was recommended to prevent prolonged suffering. The total cost of care was €471.20 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Mimi – Old Port Cat (October 2025)
Mimi was an elderly cat in a severely debilitated condition, suffering from painful oral ulcers and anemia (hematocrit 18%) with an extremely poor prognosis. She developed excessive drooling, severe oral pain, and difficulty chewing and swallowing. As a result, she refused food, continued to lose weight, and became progressively weaker. Due to FIV infection and liver damage, she also showed marked lethargy and weakness, eventually leading to collapse. Despite supportive treatment, her condition was expected to deteriorate critically within days to a few weeks. Humane euthanasia was deemed the only ethical option to prevent further suffering. The total cost of care was €272.80 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Kittens and Cat Rescues (November–December 2025)
Orion, a tiny male kitten from Gavrilis grocery shop, arrived on November 2nd from Hydra to a vet clinic in Athens. He was 2.5–3 months old, weighed 0.75 kg, and suffered from a severe infection in his right eye. Intensive treatment included oral antibiotics, ophthalmic drops, and full internal and external parasite therapy. Despite efforts, the damage to the eye was irreversible, and he underwent enucleation surgery, which went smoothly. Today, he weighs 1.3 kg, is playful, active, and in wonderful health. A trusted foster in Athens cares for him until he finds a permanent home. Orion tested positive for Giardia, received his first vaccine, and is social and playful. The cost of care was €248 (including VAT), covered by Hydra Ark.
Kamini & Giasemi Kittens
Four kittens were admitted with severe parasitic infestations (Giardia), advanced herpetic keratoconjunctivitis, diarrhea, and weight loss. Two kittens responded well to treatment, while the other two fought for their lives. Sadly, three of the four kittens passed away despite intensive care. The surviving kitten is ready to return to colonies or be adopted. The cost of care is to be determined.
A grey female cat from Kamini, aged 8 years, was admitted with severe dental sepsis, anemia, and diarrhea. Multiple extractions were performed, and foreign bodies were found embedded in tartar. She responded well to treatment and remains at the vet until fully healthy for return. Cost of care is to be determined.
Aris, a 10-year-old neutered ginger port cat, presented with severe stomatitis characterized by extensive ulcerative and necrotic lesions affecting the tongue, gingiva, and oral mucosa. He showed marked inflammation, swelling, purulent discharge, and significant pain, accompanied by excessive drooling. The condition was consistent with advanced chronic stomatitis, likely secondary to viral infection with bacterial involvement. After several days of treatment, Aris showed an excellent response and is almost ready to return home with a long-term management plan. Cost of care is to be determined.
One adult male cat was brought to the veterinarian in end-stage kidney failure. Sadly, it was already too late for treatment, and despite all efforts, the cat passed away. This case highlights the harsh reality of late discovery and the limits of medical intervention. Cost of care is to be determined.
Impact & Reflection
In 2025, our charity treated dozens of complex medical cases, provided intensive veterinary care to cats that would otherwise have died untreated, made difficult but humane decisions when recovery was no longer possible, and supported foster care, vaccination, parasite control, and adoption efforts. Every life helped reflects the dedication of our volunteers, veterinarians, and supporters. Without this network, many of these animals would not have had a chance at dignity, relief from suffering, or recovery.
During 2025, the charity treated a total of 13 cats and kittens, including nine adult cats and four kittens, many of whom arrived in critical condition and required urgent, intensive veterinary care. For six animals, the full cost of treatment has been finalized, totaling €2,286.83 (including VAT), fully covered by Hydra Ark. The finalized costs per animal were as follows: Ville Valo (later adopted and renamed Kimon) required €446.40, Scot’s prolonged treatment for chronic neglect and anemia totaled €496.00, Toulis required €352.43, Ricco’s intensive care amounted to €471.20, Mimi’s treatment totaled €272.80, and Orion’s medical care including enucleation was €248.00.
For seven animals, treatment is still ongoing at the time of reporting, and final costs were not yet available. These include the four kittens from Kamini and Giasemi (three of whom sadly passed away and one who survived), the grey female cat from Kamini undergoing treatment for severe dental sepsis, Aris recovering from advanced stomatitis, and one adult male cat brought in end-stage kidney failure who passed away despite all efforts. As these remaining cases are finalized, the total veterinary expenditure for 2025 is expected to increase accordingly.
We are animal charity volunteers. We are not an organization with unlimited resources, staff, or facilities. We are only a few people, living on an island with no veterinarian, no vehicles, and very limited support. We are surrounded by animals in need, while also carrying responsibilities, jobs, families, and private lives.
We truly wish we could help every single animal that is reported to us. We wish we could rescue them all. But the truth is painful: we cannot. Not because we don’t care — but because our limits are real.
Every day, we face heartbreaking situations. We feel extreme sadness for the animals we couldn’t help. Sometimes we receive reports too late. Sometimes we search and cannot find them. Sometimes we cannot catch them, or we simply do not have the time, the space, or the resources to continue searching. These moments stay with us and weigh heavily on our hearts.
In some cases, when there is no hope left and the animal is suffering, we are forced to make the hardest decision imaginable — to put them to sleep. Please understand: this is never an easy choice. It is a decision filled with pain, tears, and long-lasting emotional burden.
Do you think we want to experience this?
Do you think we can easily live with the sorrow, stress, and pain these circumstances cause?
Do you think we always have the strength, the time, and the emotional capacity to cope?
Beyond the physical and emotional struggle, there is also a serious financial reality.
In November 2025, our TNR (Trap–Neuter–Return) program covered the sterilization of 48 cats:
- 48 surgeries at €36 each:€1,728
- Additional treatments (3 cats):€60
- Blood test:€50
- Subtotal:€1,838
- VAT (24%):€441.12
- Total: €2,279.12
That same amount of money was almost exactly equal to the cost of emergency veterinary care for just 6 individual cats:
- Ville Valo (Kimon): €446.40
- Scot: €496.00
- Toulis: €352.43
- Ricco: €471.20
- Mimi: €272.80
- Orion: €248.00
- Total: €2,286.83
This is the ethical dilemma we face every day. Sometimes we ask ourselves if we are doing the right thing by using so much money on a few emergency cases, when sterilizing 48 cats prevents the birth of dozens — even hundreds — of future kittens. One sterilization can stop 3–4 generations of suffering. Prevention saves lives on a much larger scale.
We are volunteers. We give our time, our money, and our emotional strength. Many people forget this and make demands, expecting immediate solutions, as if we were a fully funded service.
The most important thing anyone can do is act. If you find an animal in need, please help it directly — provide food, water, shade, safety, or temporary care. Waiting and only reporting the problem is often not enough. Immediate action can save a life.
All members living on Hydra already care for many animals, and we cannot take in more. We cannot become animal collectors — keeping 30, 40, or 50 cats without the proper resources does not solve the problem and often creates new suffering. There is no shelter on the island, and none of us has the capacity to absorb endless animals.
Please forgive us if sometimes we cannot respond to dozens of messages or inquiries. Especially during the summer, when we are working long hours and barely have time for ourselves, it becomes overwhelming.
If you have read this far, it means you care — and caring already makes you part of the solution.
We cannot do this alone. Donations allow us to sterilize more cats, prevent suffering instead of endlessly reacting to emergencies, and save many lives rather than only a few. Even small contributions, when combined, create real change.
Please stand with us.
Help us help them.
👉 You can support our work through donations, fostering, acting when you find an animal in need, or simply sharing our message. Browse our web page and find out how you can help.
Together, we can change the future for the animals of Hydra.
