TNR / Trap-Neuter -Return
Milos, a place known for its breathtaking beaches and kind-hearted locals, is also home to a heartbreaking reality… The hundreds of stray cats struggling to survive. While many visitors leave with fond memories of these gentle souls, few see the hidden cycle that keeps them suffering.
The most ethical and effective solution to this crisis is Trap Neuter Return, or TNR.
What is TNR?
TNR stands for Trap–Neuter–Return, a humane approach to managing and reducing stray cat populations.
Here’s how it works:
Trap – Community cats are safely and gently trapped using humane cages.
Neuter – They are taken to a vet to be sterilised, vaccinated, and treated for any health issues.
Return – Once recovered, they are released back to their familiar environment where they are often cared for by locals or volunteers.
It’s a simple process with life changing results for both the cats and the community.
Why TNR is Ethical
Unlike outdated methods such as mass euthanasia or relocation, TNR allows cats to live out their lives naturally, without reproducing or contributing to overpopulation.
It:
Prevents suffering before it starts by stopping the endless birth of kittens that rarely survive.
Respects life rather than treating animals as a problem to remove.
Improves health and behaviour, as neutered cats are less likely to fight, roam, or spread disease.
TNR acknowledges that these cats are part of the community and gives them a chance to live safely and peacefully.
How TNR Benefits Milos
Milos’ stray cats face extreme challenges, especially during the quiet season when tourists and food sources disappear such as restaurants closing down for the season etc. With limited veterinary resources and limited funding and shelters, TNR is essential to:
Reduce suffering: Fewer kittens born means fewer dying from hunger, disease, or exposure.
Stabilise populations: Over time, colonies naturally shrink as neutered cats live out their lives.
Improve community harmony: Healthier, calmer cats are better neighbours, reducing noise, fighting, and stress for residents and businesses.
Protect the ecosystem: Managing population ethically prevents overpopulation without resorting to harm.
Every sterilised cat means hundreds of kittens prevented from a short and painful life on the streets.
The Effect of No TNR
Without TNR, the cycle continues:
A single unsterilised female can produce up to 15 kittens a year.
Many kittens die within months from starvation, dehydration, parasites, or disease.
Overcrowded colonies lead to suffering, infections, and desperate competition for food.
The local vet becomes overwhelmed, with limited funds and resources to manage growing numbers.
In short, without intervention, the suffering multiplies endlessly.
Why We’re Raising Money for TNR
Our charity, For the Cats of Milos, is fundraising to support local veterinary sterilisation programs and community led TNR.
Your donations go directly towards:
Neutering and spaying cats across the island
Vaccinations and parasite treatments for community cats
Medical care for injured or sick cats
Supplies and food for recovery and care
By contributing, you are helping create long-term, visible change reducing suffering, improving health, and giving every cat a chance at a better life.
Together, We Can Change Their Future
Every donation counts. Every sterilised cat breaks the cycle.
Milos’ cats deserve a peaceful, healthy life not one filled with hunger and pain.
Through education, compassion, and community action, we can be the difference between endless suffering and lasting change.
Donate. Share. Advocate.
Help us build a future where every cat in Milos has a voice, a chance, a future.