Officials in Cyprus estimate there is roughly one feral cat for every one of its 1 million inhabitants, though activists contend the actual population is much higher. The island’s parliamentary committee on the environment has been told that an existing sterilisation programme is too limited.

Given cats’ predatory nature, a large population not only has the potential to wreak havoc with the island’s ecosystem, but it could cause undue suffering for feral felines roaming car-choked streets in search of food and shelter.