The cat’s out of the bag.
The island nation of Cyprus, located in the Mediterranean Sea, has a troubled history, disputed by Greece and Turkey, while at the same time being a part of the British Commonwealth and, lately, of the European Union.
The name Cyprus stems from the Greek word ‘Kypros’, which means ‘land of cypress trees’ or refers to the cypress tree itself.
But in our days, rather than ‘land of cypress trees’, it has become the ‘Cat Island’, with ‘roughly one feral cat for every one of its 1 million inhabitants’ – and that has become a problem.
Pro-Cat activists argue that the actual population is hundreds of thousands of felines higher.
Associated Press reported:
“In late September, the island’s parliamentary committee on the environment was told that an existing sterilization program is too limited to contain the burgeoning cat population.
‘It’s a good program, but it needs to expand’, said Environment Commissioner Antonia Theodosiou, noting that the program conducts only about 2,000 sterilizations annually on a budget of just 100,000 euros ($117,000).”
Cyprus has a reputation for having a cat population that is disproportionately large in relation to its human inhabitants.
“Appearing to heed calls for more funding, Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou announced on Oct. 4 — World Animal Day — that the government would raise cat sterilization funding to 300,000 euros annually. The decision was hailed as a significant step forward.
[…] Given cats’ predatory nature, a large population not only has the potential to wreak havoc with the island’s ecosystem, but it could cause undue suffering for feral felines roaming car-choked streets in search of food and shelter.”
Archeological evidence shows domesticated cats in a 9,500-year-old Neolithic village.
“Adding to this long history of human-feline connection is the 4th century legend of Saint Helen who, after finding the True Cross in the Holy Lands, brought over a couple of boatloads of cats to deal with a snake infestation. A monastery that serves as a feline safe haven, St. Nicholas of the Cats, still exists today.”
The island of cats has a cat problem.
Officials in Cyprus estimate there is roughly one feral cat for every one of its 1 million inhabitants — though activists contend the actual population is hundreds of thousands higher. pic.twitter.com/0WR0LhIWTK
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 14, 2025
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