Have you ever wondered which Greek island has the most cats?
Greece has approximately 6,000 islands scattered across the Aegean and Ionian Seas. However, only 227 of these islands are inhabited. Most are small and deserted, with just a few as the main tourist and residential hubs.
While all of these islands are famous for their abundant populations of stray cats, local communities and organizations offer varying degrees of care, which directly influences the size and health of these populations. While some locations have become iconic for their stray cats, drawing the attention of tourists and animal lovers alike, others remain lesser-known but equally important havens for these resilient creatures.
Here’s a list of Greek islands known for their stray cat populations, ordered from the highest amounts of stray cats to lower amounts, along with details about their locations and what makes their cat populations unique.
Which Greek island has the most cats: a guide to feline hotspots
1. Lesbos
Location: Northeastern Aegean Sea, near the Turkish coast.
Cat Population & Care:
Lesbos is home to many stray cats, particularly in more touristy towns like Molyvos, Mytilene, Petra, Skala Sykaminia, Eftalou, and Anaxos.
The island’s agriculture provides ample food sources for these cats, and there are several organized rescue efforts, especially from the expat community.
Unfortunately, cats are still very much seen as vermin by the locals, which means that animal welfare organizations are often the only ones to provide veterinary care and spay/neuter programs to reduce the cat population.
Learn more about cat hotspots on Lesbos and how the island cares for its strays.
2. Mykonos
Location: In the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea, southeast of Athens.
Cat Population & Care:
Mykonos is known for having one of the highest stray cat populations on the Greek islands. They even outnumber humans with a staggering 50,000. You can see the cats wandering freely through the picturesque streets of white-washed houses in Mykonos Town, Ornos, Ano Mera, and many other areas.
The local community and tourists care for them by providing food. There are also efforts by animal welfare organizations to spay/neuter and vaccinate strays. Mykonos’ large tourist population often interacts with and feeds the strays, contributing to their visible presence.
Keep reading to explore more about Mykonos’ charming stray cats.
3. Santorini
Location: Another Cycladic island, located further south of Mykonos, famous for its sunsets and caldera views.
Cat Population & Care:
Santorini’s stray cats are often seen lounging near cliffside cafes and tourist hotspots such as Fira and Oia.
The island’s stray cat population is sizable due to mild weather, the abundance of food scraps from restaurants, and relatively few natural predators.
Animal welfare groups work to control the feline population through sterilization programs, and tourists often take part in feeding them.
Cats on Santorini are very used to human interaction and are usually friendly.
Read on to learn more about Santorini’s iconic stray cats.
4. Naxos
Location: In the Cyclades, near Mykonos and Santorini.
Cat Population & Care:
Naxos has a growing population of stray cats, especially in the towns and touristy areas. There are some local efforts to help manage the cat population through spaying/neutering, but the number of stray cats continues to rise. Tourists often feed the cats, and the local community also takes part in helping care for them.
Read on to explore Naxos’ lively cat population.
5. Crete
Location: The largest Greek island. It is located at the southern end of the Aegean Sea.
Cat Population & Care:
Since Crete is so vast, it has an enormous population of stray cats, especially in larger cities like Chania, Rethymnon, and Heraklion.
Many locals feed these cats. Numerous rescue groups (such as Gouves Animal Shelter) attempt to trap, neuter, and release (TNR) cats to control the numbers – many more than on the other Greek islands.
Despite the efforts, stray cats are a common sight across the island, lounging in the sun and mingling with people. However, their numbers are not as overwhelming as on Lesbos, Mykonos, and Naxos. They are visibly happier, too, especially in smaller towns such as Sissi and Kritsa.
On the other hand, cats that live in difficult-to-reach locales (such as the Arkadi Monastery) are not always well taken care of.
Discover more about Crete’s thriving stray cat population.
6. Rhodes
Location: Rhodes is the largest island in the Dodecanese group. It is located in the southeastern Aegean Sea
Cat Population & Care:
Rhodes has a sizable stray cat population, with cats particularly present in the Old Town of Rhodes and near beaches and tourist spots such as Faliraki.
Animal charities, such as Rhodes Animal Welfare, help control the stray population through TNR efforts. The local community, especially within the tourist industry, tends to feed and care for the strays, though organized shelters are not as prominent as on other islands.
Find out more about Rhodes’ stray cat community.
7. Corfu
Location: Located in the Ionian Sea, off the northwest coast of Greece.
Cat Population & Care:
Corfu is known for its stray cats, and many tourists are surprised by how friendly and approachable the cats are. The cat population here is quite large, with many colonies being fed by locals and expatriates.
Not every town has many cats, though. In Barbati, for example, they are mostly located around a handful of restaurants that even allow the cats inside as their pets – they are the luckiest on the entire island.
However, the stray cat population is more abundant in Corfu Town, Agios Giorgios, Chlomos, Benitses, and Kassiopi.
Corfu’s tourist-driven economy helps feed the cats, and many volunteer organizations across the island that help the cats whenever they can.
Unfortunately, spaying and neutering are still not common here, and the island is in dire need of organizations and funding to do just that. The number of kittens on Corfu is staggering. The limited number of older cats are often worse for wear, and it is not uncommon to see cats missing patches of fur, an ear, or even a tail.
Keep reading to uncover Corfu’s unique cat culture and find the island’s cat hotspots.
8. Paros
Location: Situated in the central Cyclades, in the Aegean Sea.
Cat Population & Care:
Paros is home to a significant population of stray cats. These felines are often seen lounging in the sun-drenched streets of Naoussa and Parikia, where they blend seamlessly into the island’s charming landscape.
Residents and businesses actively care for these cats, providing food and shelter. This has fostered a friendly atmosphere where the cats are accustomed to human interaction.
Various animal welfare organizations also conduct spaying and neutering programs to help control the population humanely.
9. Hydra
Location: Part of the Saronic Islands, located just off the coast of the Peloponnese.
Cat Population & Care:
Hydra is home to a relatively small number of stray cats compared to the previously mentioned islands, but they are well-loved by both locals and visitors.
Cats are a common sight near Hydra port and are often fed by tourists and locals. Some small-scale rescue operations help care for them, and many of the cats on Hydra live comfortably due to the tourist traffic and the island’s animal-friendly culture.
10. Iraklia
Location: A small island in the Cyclades group, south of Naxos.
Cat Population & Care:
Iraklia, despite its small size and low population, has a noticeable population of stray cats. Being less frequented by tourists than larger islands, stray cat care is more reliant on the local population.
There are a few small-scale efforts to feed and spay/neuter cats, but resources are limited. However, what they lack in funds is largely compensated by their involvement and passion in helping these cats, resulting in some of the happiest cats in Greece.
Keep reading to find out how Iraklia manages its stray cat population.
11. Delos
Location: A tiny island near Mykonos, in the Cyclades, known for its archaeological significance.
Cat Population & Care:
Delos has a smaller, but still notable, stray cat population. The cats on Delos are often seen near the port and around the ancient ruins, and despite the island’s uninhabited status (except for archaeologists and tourists), they manage to survive off scraps and offerings left by visitors.
There are minimal organized care efforts, but their numbers are kept somewhat in check due to the island’s lack of permanent residents and limited food sources.
12. Syros
Location: Another Cycladic island, just west of Mykonos.
Cat Population & Care:
Syros has a moderate stray cat population, concentrated in its capital, Ermoupoli.
Animal welfare organizations like Syros Cats actively manage the population through adoption programs and TNR initiatives. Syros is one of the islands where organized rescue efforts are highly available, and many strays find homes abroad.
Conclusion: Which Greek island has the most cats?
In general, except for Lesbos, the most visited islands, like Mykonos and Santorini, tend to have higher populations of stray cats due to the abundance of food and care provided by tourists. Meanwhile, smaller islands like Delos or Hydra have fewer strays but still support small colonies due to local efforts.
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