First Aid Guide for stray animals

While visiting Rhodes, you may come across animals in poor health or needing urgent medical care. Please don’t look away just because you’re unsure what to do. Keep this page bookmarked and follow these basic steps until local volunteers can step in. More detailled information follows in the next part.

Tsambicats First Aid Guide - Assess the Situation

Assess the situation

Take a moment to understand what’s wrong with the animal. What exactly seems to be the problem? Why do you think it’s an emergency? Always take clear photos and save the exact location using Google Maps (share the link if possible). This information is essential for anyone who might assist later.

Tsambicats First Aid Guide - Call the vet

2. Call the nearest vet

Use our interactive map to locate the closest veterinarian. It works directly within the Google Maps app.

Call the vet directly – don’t rely on emails or messages, as they may not be seen in time.
If your phone plan doesn’t allow calls, kindly ask a local shop to help you make the call; it’s usually free for them.
Describe the situation clearly and ask if the vet can connect you with a local organisation or volunteer.

Important: Always speak with a vet first before contacting animal organisations. In many cases, a quick vet visit
resolves the issue — involving organisations too early can create unnecessary logistical complications.

Tsambicats First Aid Guide - Help capture the animal

3. Help Capture the animal

If possible, try to safely capture the cat to bring it to the vet or stay nearby until help arrives. Volunteers are unpaid and often help in their free time — your presence and cooperation make a huge difference. Please don’t just call and leave; this shifts the emotional and logistical burden to volunteers who are already overwhelmed by the stray situation on Rhodes.

If you decide to capture the cat yourself, you can either improvise with a cardboard box (from a nearby shop or recycling bin), ask your hotel staff for a pet carrier or purchase a pet carrier from a nearby pet shop (see our map).

Tsambicats First Aid Guide - Help cover the costs

4. Help cover the vet costs

Most local volunteers and organisations rely entirely on donations, as there is little government or city support. If you can, please contribute financially to cover immediate treatment costs until the volunteers can secure more funds. If even more funds are needed, consider starting a crowdfunding campaign (e.g., on GoFundMe) to help raise additional support.

Important: Always ask for a receipt from the vet to ensure your donation is properly used.

Who to contact

Before contacting us, please work through the options below in order. We are two people caring for a large number of animals, and we cannot be the first point of contact for every stray in need across Rhodes. There are people and organisations better placed to help depending on where you are.

1. The nearest vet — always your first call

During working hours, contact the nearest vet directly. If you are unsure which vet is closest, check the map below or ask at a nearby pet shop — pet shops are generally well connected with local vets and volunteers and can help you make contact quickly.

2. Outside working hours or on a Sunday

Call the nearest vet anyway. Many redirect calls to an on-call vet or emergency service after hours. If you cannot reach anyone, check the most recent posts in this Facebook group for emergency vet information in Rhodes: facebook.com/groups/kynokomeiorodou

3. Check whether a local animal welfare organisation covers your area

See the list of organisations below. If one operates in your area, contact them directly. They will have local knowledge, local contacts and may be able to respond faster than we can.

If no organisation on the list covers your area, move to step 4. Do not contact organisations outside your area — they are unlikely to be able to help and the calls place an unnecessary burden on volunteers who are already stretched.

4. Contact TsambiCats

If you have worked through the options above and still need help, get in touch with us and we will do our best to point you in the right direction. Instagram is the fastest way to reach us: instagram.com/tsambicats

Please note: we cannot take in animals on request and we cannot dispatch help across the island. What we can do is help you figure out who to contact next.

5. If it is a genuine emergency and no other help is available

If the animal needs immediate intervention and you cannot reach anyone else, take the following steps while you continue trying to contact a vet:

Move the cat to a safe, dry, warm place — a cardboard box works well.
Cover them with a soft cloth or blanket to help retain body heat.
Offer a small amount of sugar water to help maintain strength.

If you have found kittens that need bottle feeding:

Feed them dissolved condensed milk — 1 part milk to 2 parts water — using a syringe or pipette.
Keep them warm using a blanket AND a bottle filled with warm (not hot) water placed nearby.
Contact the nearest vet first thing in the morning, without fail.

Interactive map with vets and pet shops in Rhodes

Open Map in a new window

Animal Welfare organisations in Rhodes

Rhodes has a number of volunteer-run organisations working to support stray and free-roaming animals on the island. Some focus exclusively on cats, others work across a wider range of animals. Their areas of activity are approximate — larger organisations may be active across the whole island, while smaller ones concentrate on specific areas or colonies.

IMPORTANT! Before reaching out to any organisation, your first and best call is always the nearest vet or pet shop. Vets on the island often know local volunteers and private carers in your area who can respond more quickly and effectively. You can find vets and pet shops near you on our map above.

The organisations listed here are all legitimate, volunteer-run groups that we respect and occasionally work alongside. However, TsambiCats is independent — we are not affiliated with any of them and cannot speak on their behalf or guarantee outcomes. Every person on this list is someone with a job, a life, and limited personal funds who gives their free time and their own money to help animals. Please keep this in mind when reaching out — response times vary, capacity is limited, and not every case can be taken on. Patience and understanding go a long way.

Cat Focussed Organisations and Groups

Kalithea Cats Rhodes

Area: East coast — Kalithea (next to Kalithea Springs, between Rhodes Town and Faliraki)

Website: https://www.kalitheacatsrhodes.com/

Facebook: facebook.com/KalitheaCatsRhodes

Instagram: @kalithea_cats_rhodes

Catopia Rhodes

Area: Island-wide, multiple colonies, no fixed zone. Swedish-led, resident on island.

Website: http://catopiarhodes.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatopiaRhodes

Purrradise Rhodos

Area: From East to West coast close to the city of Rhodes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Purrradise-Rhodos/61571789554942/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/purrradiserhodos/

Cat Cafe Rhodes

Area: West coast — Theologos and surroundings

Website: catcaferhodes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catcaferhodes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cat-Cafe-Rhodes/61580522219231/

Status: Opened March/April 2026 — first cat cafe on the island. German-led.

Cats of Gennadi

Area: South coast — Gennadi village (~60km south of Rhodes Town)

Website: https://www.catsofgennadi.eu/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cats-of-Gennadi/61579525821701/

Email: info@catsofgennadi.eu

Phone: +30 694 247 2733

Rhodian stray cats - Rhodoskattene

Area: East coast — Kalithea and Faliraki and nearby

Email: malene166@yahoo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070513150076

My PurrPaws

Area: Mostly west coast close to the city of Rhodes but may be able to move

Website: https://mypurrpaws.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/my_purrpaws/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/people/My-PurrPaws/61577582796412/

Association "The Cat Village of Rhodes"

Area: Old City, Rhodes city

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/124127650717539/?locale=el_GR

Kolymbia Cats

Area: Around Kolymbia in Rhodes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61569948077285

Email: yianniskarikas@hotmail.com

Phone: +30 694 831 2156

Faliraki Cats

Area: Around Faliraki in Rhodes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61588534460117

Phone: +30 694 306 1674

Mixed Rescue (Dogs & Cats)

Animal Rescue Rodos (Dog focussed - the only one that work with support from the city)

Area: Island-wide emergency response, works with Rhodes Town municipal shelter (Tsairi)

Website: rescue-rodos.com

WhatsApp: +30 6940 684540

Email: rescuerodos23@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalrescuerodos/

Stray Gang Rhodes

Area: West coast — Paradisi and Soroni (near Diagoras Airport)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StrayGang

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stray_gang_rhodes/

Email: stray_gang_rhodes@hotmail.gr

Phone: +30 693 6580697 / +30 693 6981085

Paws & Claws Animal Rescue Rhodes

Area: Island-wide, foster-based (no shelter)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Paws.and.Claws.ARR

Email: paws_claws_rhodes@yahoo.gr

Milla Marian Rescue Rodos

Area: Kolymbia-Afandou-Archangelos area

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567817973753

Phone: +30 694 535 5408

Lucky Paws Animal Rescue Rhodes

Area: Island-wide, foster-based

Facebook: facebook.com/LuckyPawsAnimalRescueRhodes

Facebook Group (with phone numbers): https://www.facebook.com/groups/217979058334812/

Email: luckypawsrhodes@yahoo.gr

Liber Life Rhodes (Animal Activists)

Area: Island-wide, please use mostly in cases of animal abuse

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/373771538114737/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liber_life_rhodes/

Rhodes Animal Welfare Society (Philozoiki Rodou)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kynokomeiorodou/?locale=el_GR

Foreign Support Organisations with local connections

Inselpfoten Rhodos e.V.

Website: inselpfoten-rhodos.de

Email: info@inselpfoten-rhodos.de

Focus: Adoptions to German-speaking countries, flight sponsorships, funding.

Rhodos Pfoten e.V.

Website: https://www.rhodos-pfoten.de/

Email: info@rhodos-pfoten.de

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhodospfoten_ev

Focus: Dog and cat adoptions to Germany. Partners with Stray Gang.

Paw Heroes e.V. (dog focussed)

Website: https://www.pawheroes.de/

Email: info@pawheroes.de

Focus: Vet funding, rescue support, adoptions including cats.

Rodoksen Kodittomat Elaimet

Area: Finnish organisation with strong partner network in Rhodes

Website: https://www.rodoksenkodittomatelaimet.fi/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rhodianstrayanimalfinland

Email: rhodianstrayanimal@gmail.com

This list is not exhaustive. If you represent an organisation not included, please contact us to be added: tsambicats@gmail.com

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