Neutering feral cats on the Greek Island of Paxos
Paxos Cat Neutering Trip
Vet: Sarah Morgan
Veterinary Nurse: Emma DorsettOur flight left Luton on time, and on arrival in Athens we found the perfect hotel had been organised for our stay – a few minutes from the airport, very clean and comfortable.
We were up at 4am on Sunday for our flight to Corfu then across to Paxos on the Flying Dolphin. Our apartment was at the end of the village and, although clean, it was extremely small and cold, anyway we went to explore the village of Giaos, counting cats along the way! We found Alekos at his taverna with twenty or so cats following him around, Alekos arranged for the local helper ex-pats to collect the rest of our equipment from storage, we checked through everthing to make sure we would be able to start operations at 9am on Monday.
Monday – A very warm and sunny day. We set up a prep area and theatre and recovery area then the cats strated to arrive. We used the taverna toilets to shut ourselves in while transfering cats from the traps to the crusher cages. The cats’ weights were guessed as accurately as possible then each one was given a triple anaesthetic of Domitor, Torbugesic and Ketamine. Once under we would check the sex and prep accordingly – giving an injection of Rimadyl and Betamox LA and applying Lacrilube in the eyes. The cats were clipped and prepped on one table then transferred to the theatre table for a final scrub (povidine iodine). Sarah scrubbed up and I passed sterile instruments. Once done the cat had the top of its left ear removed to show it had been neutered.
The cats were put on towels in the sun to recover, if they were not ‘local cats’ they went back into a cage and were taken to their home.
By 5pm on Monday we had spayed five cats and castrated two and checked one cat’s paw. We did all the cats brought to us, the helpers had trouble catching any more as a lot around the taverna had already been done on a previous trip, these kept going in the cages!
Tuesday – We worked at the taverna again, but by now news had got around that we were in the area and Graham had a new trap he had made and managed to catch a few more cats for us. By 5pm we had done five castrates, nine spays and checked a dog’s leg.
After work we moved into Alekos’ beautiful appartment with a sea view and pretty stray tortoiseshell and white cat (we spayed her the next evening!).
Wednesday – The best day of the trip as far as I am concerned. We had a trip to Magazia village to Effie’s house – the local cat lover. She lives in the most beautiful little Greek cottage with a fantastic flower anfd fruit garden. We did three castrates and twelve spays. She caught most of the cats herself and we did a few spays for local Greek’s pet cats. Emma (Alekos’ girlfriend) was fantastic as she speaks fluent Greek and was able to explain the process to the locals – a few even watched!! We worked until 7pm then had a quick tour of the area in almost darkness.
Thursday – The busiest day with a trip to the Mayor’s house. We set up ‘theatre’ on a balcony overlooking the mountains and managed to do nine castrates, seven spays, one pyo, two rabbit castrates and treat two bad wounds. A lot of the Greek’s brought their pets and the ex-pats helping did a brilliant job of catching the very wild cats in the olive grove around the house. When we were having a pizza in Giaos in the evening we even managed to convince the pizza taverna owner to bring his two cats – the Greek men seem especially wary of castrating a male, and females are there to produce!
Friday – Back at Alekos’ taverna. We arrived at 9am to find the pizza man waiting with his two cats. We did five castrates, five spays, checked one cat’s ears and one cat’s eye enucleation before packing up at 3.30pm to get the 4pm Flying Dolphin.
In total we treated 71 animals and had a fantastic time, hot and sunny every day – shorts and T-shirts in November! The locals seem to be coming round to the idea of neutering – most made donations and genuinely seemed interested in caring for their pet, some had Frontline or Stronghold. The ex-pats were a great help in catching the cats. We did every animal bought to us, we could have done more if more had been caught.
The trip was well organised and equipment was as on the list given to us before we went. The travelling was a bit of a nightmare going home as we had 12 hours between flights. Emma and Alekos were very kind and helpful – we would not have managed without Emma, she did so much for us, translating, collecting us in the mornings, taking us home and moving equipment. I would love to go again and am sure there are still plenty more cats to neuter.
