Cats from Hydra Harbor {Hydra}

“Many of the cats in my book The Secret Life of Greek Cats were photographed on the island of Hydra,” explains author Joan Paulson Gage.

 “On a recent trip back to Hydra, I was curious to see if the economic crisis in Greece had affected the island's feline population. The harbor cats were there, as numerous as always. They were gathered to greet the tourists, waiting under the taverna tables for handouts, and avoiding being trampled by the donkeys in the harbor, who are the only form of transportation on Hydra,” Joan Paulson Gage continues.

“Every time I'd comment that the Hydra cats seemed thinner than before, my daughter Eleni would point out a fat cat who clearly enjoyed a regular meal schedule. The best fed and happiest cats on the island are, of course, house pets and store cats. The harbor cats have a harder life, but they regularly greet the fishing boats as they come in in the morning, hoping for scraps when fish are cleaned. They also keep an eye on the private boats anchored in the harbor-- to the point of mastering tightrope walking, if it will win a tasty bite. Even the wildest of the feral cats, when the sun begins to set, have to stop a moment and wonder at the beauty of their island, and take a moment to wish for good hunting and a full stomach tomorrow.”

You can find The Secret Life Of Greek Cats at Amazon US and Amazon UK.