Cyprus is the land of cats

Paint, create, rescue: new help for the island’s strays

What do crafting and saving stray cats have in common? At first glance, nothing. They are not by nature connected. But one new initiative is raising awareness and funds for Cyprus’ strays through creative events, inviting craft enthusiasts, animal lovers and beyond to come together for a good cause.

With so many cats on the island, it is only natural we care for them. But that is not always the case, every week there is a new sad story about a hit-and-run, poisoned, dumped or abused strays.

“It is estimated that around 80,000 cats live in the Larnaca area alone, many still not neutered,” says Verena Peterka, founder of the community initiative Paint With Friends (PWF), “The situation for stray cats here can unfortunately be described in one word: heartbreaking.”

If it is true that there are more cats than people in Cyprus, shouldn’t these animals, often more loved by tourists than the local population, be thriving? Perhaps Cyprus is ignoring one of its major appeals. “Many visitors come here precisely because of this unique relationship between the island and its feline population. In my opinion, the cats should truly be seen as a symbol of the island and treated with the care and respect that such a symbol deserves,” says Verena.

She knows this first-hand, as local cats are what drew her to Cyprus in the first place. During a trip here in 2024, she met two kittens and couldn’t leave them behind. They were too young to be adopted then, so she returned to Germany.

“It resulted in what I jokingly call the worst heartbreak of my life. Four weeks later, I flew back to Cyprus to bring them home with me to Germany. Those two kittens were really the beginning of everything.”

But Cyprus quickly pulled her back in. She relocated to the island in the summer of 2025 with her three cats, which soon became five. Almost immediately, she founded Paint with Friends to help local cats and get more people involved through fun, creative initiatives.

The project doubles as a way for people to meet new friends – one of the most common problems internationals who move here say they experience. Cypriot friend groups are hard to penetrate.

“The idea behind PWF is quite simple: bringing people together while helping street cats at the same time,” she explains. “As someone new on the island myself, I realised that one of the most beautiful ways to connect with others is through shared activities. If that activity can also contribute to a good cause, even better.”

So far, the fundraising events have ranged from painting vases by the sea, decorating candles and glasses, and creating vision boards. At first, they were a women-only space, yet as the idea developed, the initiative opened up.

“In fact, some of our newer DIY-style events have become particularly popular with men as well. One of our most memorable projects, for example, was building wooden shelters for stray cats together and donating them to areas where cats are regularly cared for.”

All money raised goes directly to a cat rescue charity, to neutering strays or supporting animal organisations. Verena is transparent: “Honestly, I can show you the receipts!” she shares, and she does actually post them on her social media account. With all these scams and fake calls-to-help, it has become more important for people to know where their money goes.

A psychologist by profession, Verena runs PWF mostly solo, taking on the burden of expenses. Yet donations have started to come in, and two more women, Rita and Francesca, have now become an essential part of the project.

“Paint with Friends is not simply about asking for donations. It’s about giving something back: a creative experience, a relaxed afternoon with others, and the chance to leave knowing that you contributed to something good.”

The PWF events also have an educational component, as Verena wants to keep animal welfare the main focus and give people access to information.

She invites well-known animal rescuers and experienced volunteers who share insights into their work and explain important topics such as Trap Neuter Return, how to bottle-feed newborn kittens, and the different types of humane traps used to rescue or sterilise cats.

“These conversations usually lead to very interactive discussions and question-and-answer sessions. One outcome I am particularly proud of is that after every event, we have been able to recruit new foster volunteers. This is incredibly important, because nearly all rescue organisations struggle with a lack of people who can temporarily care for kittens until they are ready for adoption.”

The initiative also helps cat rescuers and organisations by creating videos for them to increase their visibility, organise volunteer days, and deliver food or shelter donations. More recently, it has launched its own Trap Neuter Return project to tackle one of the biggest problems the Cyprus cat situation faces.

“Controlling the population through responsible sterilisation is one of the most effective ways to reduce suffering,” Verena says. Another vital piece of advice she shares about helping the cats is feeding them appropriate food – no leftovers. Sorry, Cyprus grandmothers – your fish scraps, bones, rice or pasta are deemed unsuitable.

Verena’s biggest nugget to share is this: to see a bigger change, people have to work together. “I strongly believe that animal welfare only works through cooperation. It is not something that one person or one organisation can solve alone.

“In the end,” Verena concludes, “it’s about community, creativity and compassion, all coming together in a way that benefits the people, the island and the animals.”

Find Paint With Friends’ next creative events and initiatives on Instagram @paint_with_friends_cyprus