Stray Cats’ Tough Life, Greek Islands | SLICE

It is when left to its own devices that you can really appreciate the feline nature of the domestic cat. Follow three stray cats and a little ginger orphan on their journey to finding food and companionship on an idyllic Greek island near Athens.

Extracted from the documentary:
Kittenhood
Produced by NORD-OUEST DOCUMENTAIRES & FRANCE TÉLÉVISIONS
Directed by Emma Baus

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[MissErendis]

Well, since I actually did grow up in this island (Hydra) I can say that it is indeed the nearest thing to idyllic for cats.
Hydra is one of the few islands where cars are banned, so most cats, even those that are kept as official pets by a family, are left to freely roam and return to the house whenever they need food, shelter or caresses. Combined with the lack of natural predators, it makes them the true kings of the island (there are very few stray dogs and most of them have either a healthy fear of the colonies or, like the dearly departed port mascot Boubis, have befriended them).
Even for the strays, it is not unusual for people to leave out food, be that leftovers or cat food, for the neighborhood cats, and especially those that live around the port or restaurants get exceedingly well-fed, which explains while most cats in Hydra are friendly with people, even if they have not been specifically socialized.
Pet culture in the island, as in most rural areas of Greece, used to until recently more of a symbiotic relationship with animals that merits both parties rather than the much closer bond of urban areas, which meant a much more hands-off approach to the care of cats, especially strays. Since 2007 though, the organization Hydra Ark, in collaboration with the Municipality, has been spraying, vaccinating and more actively monitoring the health of the local stray population.
Thanks for coming to my TeD talk.

[KenKill]

Forcing my cats to watch, to show how grateful they should be

[janice]

I wish I could help all the cats of the world, they are very precious to me. Helping them starts at each community... I hope people will have more kindness and compassion towards them.

[richardcline]

That little ginger kitten really breaks my heart.

[gerostoumoria]

Cats in Greece are not treated like those in USA. In villages, people feed them and as a reward for killing rats. In my village in the island of Lesvos, everyone that I know, takes care of stray cats and feed them when possible. Little plates with water can be found everywhere during the hot summer days.

[Scottish-Fold]

such a beautiful place with lovely cats

[charjl]

I hope the ginger kitten and the mother are both getting enough to eat.

[monky]

Greece have 10 Million people and 50 Million Cats

[romanianisraeli]

Awe so adorable and cute, poor little creatures i feel like adopting one.

[jarimikkola]

I visited a close friend on the isle of Crete many times, and all the stray cats were phenominal! They were all fairly tame, but it was a sad sight to see. My friend told me that tourists often left them behind because they thought they could take care of themselves better by joining a 'cat pride.' Many of the cats were tame because they had once been pets....such a sad thing to see, and because of this...I no longer go to crete (even though I rent out a cottage there; I have it managed by a close friend instead).

[cerenkocak]

Why didnt you help ginger kitten just filming. They are domestic, they have to take care :(

[geogeo]

In the Island where I live, I spend a small fortune every year in around 10 stray Cats food and doctors, except the two who live permanently inside and outside my home, and one of these has one eye. Not by nutrition problem but by bacteria since she was a baby transferred by her mother. Same as me are doing many others. Where the hell you found poor skinny cats? They are more fat than me and I must push them to diet, but they are eating also from other people and I can not control their food quantity.

[eLeft]

Those cats aren't stray. That's literally how they live, they aren't pets. If you try taking one inside your house (especially if it's an apartment) it will likely go mad.

[mvl]

Just back from Greece... the amount of cats I came across in a little village was staggering. Including: two dead cats next to a busy road, many pregnant cats (it's springtime! ), some mums-to-be only kittens themselves, cats with all kinds of wounds, a one-eyed cat. Old battered faces and many young ones. And not a vet in sight . Most cats very friendly towards humans and tourists, who feed them. They are all outdoor cats, all hunters. So not much wildlife in sight either...

[JennekedenOuter]

Currently in contact with an organisation called Athens Stray Cats, in hopes of adoption of Greece's many stray cats..

[Djayhasapikachu]

20 seconds in "take the ginger in with you" 😂

[e.estime]

3:02 mother cat : get away from my kitten

[kimnoel]

The Cats and Horses in Greece.
🏀🐈🐎🇬🇷🍟🌠🏝️🪕🎶

[setrakarcana]

What happened to the cats? I'm so invested in the drama now, did they survived? Come on...! We need a follow up! 🙀😿

[artyartemis]

This is Human big sin they domesticate Cats and Dogs for their safety and now those cats struggling to survive. and in today's human world they don't get enough food to eat.