Cat lovers wanting to spend some time on the Greek island of Syros could do so for free. One of the cat sanctuaries on the island is offering free accommodation, utilities, and breakfast to long-term volunteers.
Although tourists tend to be charmed by cats roaming around their holiday destination, stray cats can be a real issue for the animals and those living locally alike. As cats don’t have natural predators in many places around the globe, one non-neutered couple can soon lead to a true invasion of furry beasts, who are often plagued by hunger and sickness due to a lack of care.
The Cycladic island of Syros, like many other Greek islands, has historically been dealing with a stray cat problem. And while there are still cats left roaming the streets, over the years, Syros has become an example of how to deal with strays for many other locations around the globe, thanks to two sanctuaries: Syros Cats and God’s Little People Cat Rescue.
Both organisations are doing everything they can to make life a little easier for stray cats in the region. By rescuing abandoned animals, organising feeding programmes, providing veterinary care, and putting cats up for adoption, they are tackling the issue little by little and have been doing so for over 20 years.
Halftime tourist, halftime cat rescuer
However, as is to be expected, caring for so many cats does require a lot of work. Both centres mainly rely on volunteers to get the job done, and they are thus regularly looking for extra hands. In order to make the offer more appealing and more accessible to all, Syros Cats has come up with quite an attractive offer for those who would like to spend some time on the island, whether as a (flexible) digital nomad or as a working tourist.
The cat sanctuary offers their long-term volunteers (who stay for a month or longer) free accommodation, utilities, and breakfast in return for five hours of their time per day, five days per week. While those with training or experience as a veterinary nurse are particularly welcome, all cat lovers can apply, as soon as they are reliable, self-sufficient, and turn up on time.
“We’re looking for helpers who already have some work experience. If you’re under twenty-five, it’s unlikely you’d be able to demonstrate the level of self-sufficiency and initiative that we need. We usually have about four volunteers at any one time, often from very different backgrounds and all parts of the world and you need to be tolerant and accepting of differences in customs, race, gender and belief, that you may encounter here and in Greece”, the organisation explains.
While applications for 2026 are closed, cat lovers can apply for 2027 starting from September. Applications can be submitted online and should include a motivation letter, curriculum, and any relevant cat care experience. Keep in mind that transportation, food other than breakfast, and travel insurance are to be paid by the volunteers.
