The Cat Friendly Hotel Project — An Open Invitation

The Situation of Stray Cats in Rhodes

Rhodes faces a serious challenge with its stray cat population, with tens of thousands of animals living without reliable shelter, food or veterinary care. During the busy summer months, the presence of tourists creates an abundance of food, which in turn leads to frequent breeding and a rapid rise in cat numbers.

Once winter arrives, tourist areas empty out and food sources disappear almost overnight. The resulting shortage leads to malnutrition, fierce competition for what little remains and a general decline in the health of many colonies.

Although the municipality is legally responsible for supporting stray animals, limited funding and low prioritisation mean that food distribution is inconsistent and access to medical care is minimal. Much of the essential support falls to private volunteers, who step in to provide feeding, shelter and basic care — services that are crucial for the survival of Rhodes's stray cat population.

Our Proposal

This project is an open invitation to hotels, local authorities, animal welfare organisations and volunteers to work together on a practical, structured approach to stray cat management across Rhodes. The framework below sets out what responsible participation could look like. We invite all relevant parties to help shape it, refine it and bring it into action.

The Project Framework

Feeding infrastructure

• 1–3 feeding stations per hotel, depending on property size and number of resident cats

• Each station: top-loading feeder (~3 kg dry food capacity) and fresh water bowl

• A designated guest feeding area with an easy-to-clean surface and lidded waste bin

• Feeding outside designated areas discouraged through staff communication and signage

Population management

• Regular monitoring of the cat population on the premises

• Sterilisation appointments organised according to veterinary availability, female cats prioritised

• Kittens recorded and sterilised once they reach the appropriate age

Information and adoption

• Information display at each feeding station covering international adoption opportunities

• Logos, contact details and websites of all participating organisations displayed

• Donation box for guests wishing to support winter feeding

• One cat carrier or trap per hotel for guests pursuing adoption or seeking veterinary care

Ongoing support

• Guidance on cat care, treatments and colony management as needed

• Connections to relevant local partners for staff and guests

Expected Outcome

For the cats

• Within one year, the population on the premises stabilises and breeding slows significantly

• A consistent feeding routine reduces hunger, territorial behaviour and the desperation that makes cats a nuisance around food areas

• Some cats find permanent homes abroad through guest adoptions — a small number, but meaningful

For the guests

• Cats that are fed, calm and managed are a very different presence to cats that are hungry and competing for scraps

• Designated feeding areas keep the rest of the property clean and free of food waste

• Guests who love cats get a structured way to interact with them; guests who don't appreciate seeing the situation handled with care rather than ignored

For the hotel's reputation

• Animal care comes up in guest reviews more often than most hotels expect — both positively and negatively. Guests who care about animal welfare are a growing segment, and they notice. A hotel that handles it well gets credit for it. A hotel that doesn't, increasingly hears about it.

• Participating hotels become part of a visible good practice network, which carries weight with tour operators as well as individual travellers.

A small side note

• Cat food sales at the hotel mini-market tend to increase once a feeding programme is in place and guests know they can contribute

During the Winter Time

This is where it matters most. Summer is manageable. Winter is when cats go hungry.

Requirements for participating hotels:

• Feeding stations remain in place throughout winter, protected from rain

• Stations kept topped up at agreed intervals by hotel staff

• Food may be supplied by the municipality or welfare organisations, subject to availability

If a cat needs medical attention:

• Hotel staff contact the designated coordinator

• Collection and veterinary care are arranged

Hotels that cover feeding costs or donate food to local rescue organisations will be acknowledged across all project communication channels. It is a small ask and it makes a real difference.

Access during winter — in person or through photos and updates from staff — helps ensure the cats on the premises are not forgotten once the season ends.

Join the Project

No single group can make this work at the scale Rhodes requires. The island has thousands of hotels and accommodations, and meaningful change needs more than goodwill — it needs people and organisations willing to commit.

This project needs partners who can bring:

• Organisational capacity and local reach

• Veterinary support

• Volunteer networks for sterilisation and monitoring

• Political or institutional backing to engage the municipality

If you work in animal welfare, local government or veterinary care in Rhodes, we would genuinely like to hear from you. This project is better with more voices in it.

How You Can Help As a Visitor

Contact your hotel or Airbnb

Send a short message explaining what you felt was missing in terms of animal care and point them to this project. Mention that consultation is free and that the pilot phase is open to new participants.

Contact your travel agent

Ask them to share the project with their partner hotels in Rhodes. A calm, constructive message goes further than a complaint — the goal is to improve things, not to assign blame.

Spread the word

Share this with anyone planning a trip to Rhodes. If they encounter an animal in need during their stay, point them to tsambicats.gr/first-aid-guide.

Mention animal care in your accommodation review

Whether the hotel handled it well or not, saying so helps other guests and tells hotels that this is something people notice. If a hotel responds to your review, direct them here.