The rise of cats in Cyprus dates again to AD 328, when Roman Empress Saint Helena, also called Helena of Constantinople, shipped a whole bunch of cats from Egypt to Cyprus to chase snakes from the St. Nicholas of the Cats monastery.
A contradictory legend claims Cleopatra, Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, introduced the cats to exterminate snakes.
Nevertheless, the earliest identified archaeological proof of a home cat on the Mediterranean island goes again to 7,500 BC, with a human and a cat buried in the identical grave.
Sadly, the vast majority of Cypriots connect little worth to their cats. They’re often not considered pets and are thought of vermin (very similar to rats). For shopkeepers and resort managers, their presence is a nuisance. As such, many individuals in Cyprus refuse to deal with stray cats. A number of animals are malnourished and wounded.
Fortunately, issues are slowly shifting…
In recent times, the state had put aside 75,000 euros yearly for cat sterilizations, however that funding has been dramatically sliced because of the financial disaster.
Following the federal government sterilization program, numerous cat feeding stations are being established everywhere in the island of Cyprus, and plenty of cities now have a number of volunteers who feed and take care of the native strays, oftentimes with their very own assets.
Malcolm Cat Safety Society close to Limassol – named after its founder Malcolm C. P. Stevenson – might be essentially the most mediatized of the cat rescue organizations in Cyprus, and it has develop into the island’s fundamental vacationer attraction.
The sanctuary is free to go to, and you’ll simply spend an hour and a half within the firm of the roughly 200 cats, most of that are affectionate and well-behaved.
It’s a secure shelter for the cats, with an out of doors space to play in, and they’re taken care of twice every day by volunteers who additionally give them love and a spotlight.
The well-known St. Nicholas of the Cats monastery is close by and will be visited together with Malcolm Cat Safety Society.
It’s also possible to go to The Tala Monastery Cat Park, which cares for almost 1,000 stray cats.
Positioned within the village of Tala, the Tala Monastery Cat Park is a singular vacation spot that provides an ideal mix of feline attraction and cultural significance. Nestled within the serene grounds of the Agios Neophytos Monastery, this cat park is a haven for each cats and cat lovers.
As quickly as you enter the cat park, you’ll be greeted by the pleasant feline residents who roam freely across the monastery grounds. These lovable cats are well-cared for by the monastery’s employees and volunteers, and so they have shaped a close-knit group within the park. They’re identified for his or her playful and affectionate nature, and so they’re all the time wanting to work together with guests.
One of many highlights of the Tala Monastery Cat Park is the chance to feed and work together with the cats. The park gives designated feeding areas the place you should buy cat meals and treats to feed the cats. It’s a heartwarming expertise to observe the cats eagerly method you for meals and see their appreciation as they get pleasure from their meal.
Except for interacting with the cats, the Tala Monastery Cat Park additionally affords a glimpse into the wealthy historical past and tradition of Cyprus. The Agios Neophytos Monastery, based within the twelfth century by Saint Neophytos, is a spot of nice spiritual significance. The monastery options beautiful frescoes and carvings, and you’ll discover its peaceable chapels and cells. As you wander by means of the monastery, you’ll additionally come throughout the charming cat-themed paintings and decorations that adorn the park, including to its distinctive character.
The Tala Monastery Cat Park is not only a vacationer attraction, but additionally a sanctuary for stray cats. The park operates as a non-profit group, relying solely on donations and the help of volunteers. The park’s mission is to supply a secure and caring setting for stray cats, in addition to to advertise accountable cat possession by means of training and consciousness.
Visiting the Tala Monastery Cat Park isn’t solely a enjoyable and memorable expertise, however it’s additionally a solution to help a worthy trigger. By buying cat meals and different gadgets on the park’s present store, you might be immediately contributing to the well-being of the cats and supporting the park’s efforts to supply them with a greater life.
The non-profit group Cyprus Cats is one other essential cat sanctuary.
Based in 2001, Cyprus Cats has been working tirelessly to make the stray cats of Cyprus more healthy and happier by means of rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption efforts, in addition to selling accountable cat possession and advocating for animal welfare.
Not solely do they supply recent meals and water, additionally they convey in poor health or injured cats to a veterinarian for analysis and remedy. They function a Entice-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, the place stray cats are trapped, spayed or neutered, after which returned to their authentic places to stop additional breeding. This method helps to regulate the inhabitants of stray cats and enhance their general well being and well-being.
Cyprus Cats additionally fosters cats and kittens who want break day the streets to develop or get better. They search appropriate everlasting properties for these cats prepared for a life off the streets by means of their adoption program. They rigorously display potential adopters to make sure that the cats are positioned in secure and loving environments. Every cat is spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated earlier than being adopted, to make sure their well-being and to advertise accountable cat possession.
Cyprus Cats additionally focuses on group training and consciousness to advertise accountable cat care and cut back the variety of stray cats. They supply data and assets to the local people on matters equivalent to spaying/neutering, correct vitamin, and offering ample shelter for out of doors cats. Additionally they manage academic workshops and occasions to lift consciousness concerning the significance of animal welfare and the humane remedy of cats.
But, with so many stray cats in Limassol (and Cyprus normally), the precious work of those organizations isn’t sufficient. Everybody should take duty for serving to management the cat inhabitants whereas conserving the cats’ well-being a prime precedence.
You, too, will help the stray cats of Cyprus.
The plain choice is to donate a small quantity to a number of cat sanctuaries in Cyprus. A donation of solely $25 can save a cat’s life as it will probably assist present medical remedy and meals. Some organizations (equivalent to The Tala Monastery Cat Park) provide sponsorship packages for particular cats.
It’s also possible to order cat meals for the shelter cats straight from the Cyprus Cats web site.
Malcolm Cat Safety Society additionally affords to buy cat calendars and selfmade Christmas playing cards that characteristic the cats of the sanctuary. Income from these calendars and Christmas playing cards will go on to the cats – a welcoming additional since Malcolm Cat Safety Society’s volunteers discover deserted cats and kittens dumped outdoors the fence almost every day.
Malcolm Cat Safety Society and The Tala Monastery Cat Park even have charity retailers.
The Malcolm Cat Safety Society store was once situated in Limassol however has now moved to the close by city of Episkopi. The Tala Monastery Cat Park store is in Paphos.
Have you ever ever considered giving a stray cat from Cyprus a eternally residence?
Cat sanctuaries like Cyprus Cats, The Tala Monastery Cat Park, and Malcolm Cat Safety Society usually have cats needing a brand new residence.
You’ll be able to even undertake these stray cats from your individual nation; the sanctuaries will manage journey and paperwork for cats leaving the nation.
These compassionate and devoted organizations and volunteers are all making a big distinction within the lives of stray cats in Limassol and Cyprus. Their unwavering dedication to rescue, rehabilitate, and rehome cats, in addition to their efforts in selling accountable cat possession and advocating for animal welfare, is really commendable. In case you are a cat lover or an animal advocate, supporting these cat rescue organizations is a significant solution to contribute to the well-being of cats and assist make a constructive change of their lives. Collectively, we will help save lives, one whisker at a time.
Learn subsequent 👉
Look Into Deserted Cats’ Eyes: Photographer From Riga Captured Homeless Cats Round The Metropolis
Did you want this publish concerning the stray cats of Limassol, Cyprus? Share it along with your family and friends to unfold much more consciousness about these poor Cypriot cats in want.
Pictures by Yuko Images
Textual content by Vanessa Morgan
#cats #people #Cyprus
https://traveling-cats.com/2022/09/cats-from-limassol-cyprus.html
