'I adopted stray cats I fell in love with on holiday'

**"Holiday Romance" Leads to Adoption of Stray Cats for Shropshire Woman**

Eve Gaut's September 2023 holiday in Sissi, Crete, took an unexpected turn when she encountered two black and white kittens, Stavros and Nikos, just 24 hours into her trip. The Shropshire resident, who habitually fed stray animals while on vacation, felt an immediate and profound connection with the feline brothers.

"It sounds crazy, I just felt this connection," Gaut explained, recalling how Stavros's persistent meowing made her feel "like I was being asked for help." Recognizing their plight, she resolved to provide them with a better life in the UK.

The kittens, whose mother had been killed by a car, reminded Gaut of her own pets back home. They followed her throughout the town, and she provided them with food whenever possible. However, witnessing them narrowly escape traffic on the busy roads filled her with dread for their safety. "I love these cats, and I'm going to save them," she declared to her husband.

Upon her return, Gaut immediately contacted local rescue charities. A volunteer, armed with Gaut's photographs, successfully located and captured the brothers, initiating the rehoming process. After £1,500 in veterinary care, vaccinations, microchips, foster care, and specialized transport, Gaut was reunited with Stavros and Nikos in January 2024.

The transition to their new home in Shropshire has been remarkably smooth. "They both adapted incredibly well," Gaut shared. "They're super affectionate. They're eating non-stop because I think they understand a world where food isn't readily available. They're just wonderful additions to the house and everybody loves them."

**The Widespread Issue of Street Cats in Europe**

The presence of street cats is a common sight in many European holiday destinations, a consequence of uncontrolled breeding that International Cat Care describes as an "overwhelming problem." For instance, Cyprus is estimated to have two million cats, significantly outnumbering its 1.4 million human inhabitants.

Harry Eckman, a global advisor on cat population management for International Cat Care, understands the emotional pull that leads animal lovers to intervene when they form a bond with a stray. He acknowledges the "great need" and "lot of work to be done to help these animals."

However, Eckman stresses the importance of prioritizing the cat's best interests, urging individuals to consider, "are you doing it for yourself or are you doing it for the cat?" He cautions that a cat content with being fed and petted on a balcony may not thrive in an indoor environment. "Taking it out of familiar environment, especially if it's not used to living inside, can be incredibly distressing," he explained.

In areas with well-managed local cat colonies, visitors may observe cats with clipped ears, indicating they have been neutered, and designated feeding stations. Lisbon, for example, boasts over 1,300 registered and managed cat colonies, with local residents actively involved in their care.

Eckman advises concerned travelers to maximize their impact by supporting local organizations. "In every country that you go to there are going to be people who live there who are trying to help these cats as best they can," he said. "Look for a local organisation, see if you can support them. That's going to make a massive difference to the cat you saw, and hundreds and thousands of cats over the coming months and years."

**Continuing Advocacy and Awareness**

Gaut, who owns a marketing and PR firm, concurs with Eckman's advice, acknowledging that some cats are better off remaining in their familiar environments. "Mine's a happy story, I've heard sad stories where people have adopted and it's not turned out so well and you have to be realistic," she stated.

She now dedicates hundreds of pounds to cat food during her visits to Greece and actively encourages local residents to do more. On a recent trip to Andros, she persuaded a resident to take a very ill kitten to the vet.

The stark reality of street cats continues to affect Gaut deeply. "It breaks my heart, because I look at the cats on the street and I think, that was the life that Stavros and Nikos were living," she lamented. "It makes me very sad every time I go, and sometimes I think, 'should I not return because it doesn't feel like a holiday?'… But then you feel like you're turning your back on a problem and every little helps. Realistically there isn't enough homes in Greece for all these cats, or they wouldn't be on the street."