Cyprus’ growing stray cat population — estimated at around one million — has gained international attention, after the Associated Press published a feature titled: “About a million roam the streets of Cyprus — Authorities try to get their numbers under control.”

According to the report, “Cyprus has earned a reputation as the ‘island of cats’ — and not without reason. Authorities and animal welfare groups estimate the number of stray cats at close to one million, roughly one cat for every resident.”

The situation has worsened in recent years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, due to several factors:

• Many pet owners abandoned cats they had adopted during lockdowns.

• Spaying and neutering programs were disrupted or scaled back due to limited funding.

• The island’s warm climate, abundance of open spaces, and readily available food sources from tourists and rubbish bins have allowed the stray population to thrive easily.

Local municipalities, in cooperation with animal welfare organizations, have launched a nationwide program to register and sterilize stray cats in an effort to curb their numbers.

The goal is to neuter tens of thousands of cats over the next 12 months, with funding coming partly from government resources and partly from private donations and volunteers.

However, welfare groups warn that the funds are insufficient, describing the situation as having reached “epidemic” proportions.

In several areas — especially tourist zones — residents have complained about odors, diseases, and property damage.

At the same time, there is tension between animal lovers and locals, as many tourists and residents continue to feed stray cats, further encouraging population growth.

Stray cats are a common sight at archaeological sites, hotels, and beaches, and often become viral attractions on social media.

Cyprus’ connection with cats goes back thousands of years. Archaeologists discovered on the island the oldest known cat burial in the world, dating back 9,500 years.

In the 4th century AD, Saint Helena is said to have sent a ship full of cats from Egypt to Cyprus to combat a surge in snakes during a prolonged drought. The cats were released near the Monastery of Saint Nicholas of the Cats in Limassol — a site that still carries the legend today.