One Year Later: Stray Cat Carer Susan in Gozo

The rough sea, strong winds and torrential rain on our trip to Gozo showed us the small island was taking a stormy break from its habitual dry weather and sunshine. The turbulent weather of end of 2016 was soon forgotten when we saw how pleased Susan was upon receiving her copy of Islands of Cats. Her smile and warm appreciation brightened the room as she looked at the pages. Two cats, Poppy and Pushy, entered the front door (which is always open for strays), and immediately jumped on the table as if to see if their picture was also in the book. You can read more about Susan and her years of caring for stray cats in 'Islands of Cats' on pages 97-99.

The book tells the story of a representative 22 of over 1,000 stray cat carers in Malta and Gozo on 128 pages, illustrated by over 250 colourful photographs - accompanied by cat facts, stories, interviews, and it introduces places of interest on the Islands. 'Islands of Cats' is available in English, Maltese and German, as well as E-Books including Kindle. And most of all, we donate part of the proceeds of each book sold in aid of neutering and spaying of stray and abandoned cats in the Maltese Islands. Click here to order your copy, and please tell your friends.

Islands of Cats is now available on Amazon UK and Germany

The colourful hardcover photo-story books 'Islands of Cats', 'Inseln der Katzen' and 'Il-Gżejjer tal-Qtates' can now be purchased via Amazon UK or Amazon Germany:
We will make all books available in more Amazon online stores in Europe as well as Amazon USA and Japan. Use your Amazon buyer account for your purchase in a safe online shopping environment, or have a book shipped to a friend. In the near future our books will also be shipped from the nearest Amazon fulfilment center which makes it easy for you to group with other purchases and save on shipping costs.

From 'Islands of Cats': daily stray cat dinner buffet in Birżebbuġa

One Year Later: Jane & Elaine of the Tomasina Cat Sanctuary

The team at the Tomasina Cat Sanctuary in Luqa were busy cleaning when we arrived to present their copy of 'Islands of Cats'. However, Jane, the Sanctuary Manager, and Elaine, a regular volunteer, happily took a break from their chores to accept the book on behalf of the Sanctuary.

'Thank you for including us in this wonderful book', said Jane. 'It makes us feel good when our work is acknowledged.' Which made Gabi and me feel good too!

left to right: a Cat, Elaine with a Cat, Jane with the Book, and Alexander

You can read more about Jane and the Tomasina Cat Sanctuary in 'Islands of Cats' on pages 59-63.

'Islands of Cats' tells the stories of a representative 22 of over 1,000 stray cat carers in Malta and Gozo on 128 pages, illustrated by over 250 colourful photographs - accompanied by cat facts, stories, interviews, and it introduces places of interest on the Islands. 'Islands of Cats' is available in English, Maltese and German, as well as E-Books and Amazon Kindle. And most of all, we donate part of the proceeds of each book sold in aid of neutering and spaying of stray and abandoned cats in the Maltese Islands. Click here to order your copy, and please tell your friends.

Meet the Stray Cats of Gozo

Malta's green little sister is located a short 20 minutes ferry right North of the main Island of the Maltese Archipelago. Only 67 square kilometres in size, Gozo (Maltese: Għawdex) has much history to offer, including one of the oldest free standing temple in the world, 5,500 years old Ġgantija. The Island is popular amongst divers from all over the world, for hiking, for its rough yet green landscape, or simply for relaxed holidays away from the busy tourist centres of Malta. And cats know that, too.

Watching her clowder gather for a meal in Żebbuġ, Gozo.

By conservative estimation, some 350,000 stray cats live on Malta and Gozo. With very little control exercised by official bodies, it is thanks to the initiative and devotion of more than 1,000 individuals who feed the strays daily, provide veterinary support and have them neutered and spayed as young as 4 months (primarily at their own costs!). However, some clever moggies hide too well and do reproduce. Today the cat population in this overdeveloped, sea-locked small nation is stable, if not declining.

For the book "Islands of Cats - the humble Stray Cat Carers of the Maltese Islands", 6 of the 22 stray cat carers portrayed were visited in Gozo, namely Żebbuġ, Xlendi, Fontana, Għajnsielem, Qala, and Rabat (former brit. Victoria). While the book highlights the work of the stray cat carers, for this post, the stray cats of Gozo are the stars, photographed at around feeding time during the winter months. Enjoy the view.

Knocking at the Stray Cat Carers door. It's feeding time !! Żebbuġ, Gozo.

Strays after their in-house meal at a stray cat carer's home in Għajnsielem, Gozo

Hello. I live in Għajnsielem, Gozo, too.

Feeding time at the SPCA's Cat Café in Gozo's capital Rabat (former brit. Victoria).

Anywhere in Malta or Gozo: After the meal, snoozing in the sun. The shelter of a parked car is always welcome.

Love and Devotion: Sugar - the Paralysed Cat

photograph ©2016 Islands of Cats

Doris, the founder of the cat sanctuary "C.S.A.F. - Carers of Stray and Abandoned Felines" in Cospicua, Malta, and her team are lovingly caring for «Sugar» for ten years.

The tomcat fell off a balcony some seven years ago, leaving him all paralysed from head down. Euthanising was no option for Doris' sweetheart. With the help of the volunteers at the Sanctuary - and the other 250 cats - Sugar enjoys being cared for in the cat shelter.

Sugar resides in a comfortable basket or baby seat, being moved, fed and cleansed daily by the volunteer carers. He receives veterinary care whenever needed, and on July 11, 2016, the CSAF posted on Facebook:

photograph courtesy C.S.A.F.

** SUGAR, OUR PARALYZED CAT HAS HAD HIS TEETH REMOVED **

Our precious and beloved Sugar, a paralyzed cat that has been under our care for the last 10 years, has had to have his teeth taken out as they got all rotten. He is now doing a slow recovery at the sanctuary...

Sugar not only gets a lot of attention from the carers, but also from several fellow-cats, some of them often stopping by to cuddle with him in his basket during the night. Sugar might be paralysed, but he is totally aware of what is going on around him. A wonderful example of what love and devotion can do. Blessings to lil' Sugar and to everybody so patiently looking after him.

photograph ©2016 Islands of Cats

The "C.S.A.F. - Carers of Stray and Abandoned Felines" is one of 22 stray cat carer portraits in the new (e)book "Islands of Cats - the humble Stray Cat Carers of the Maltese Islands" - click here to read more.

intelligentCatCare Magazine - Good Resource for Stray Cat Carers and Pet Cat Owners

Feeding time at a stray cat colony in Swieqi, Malta - photo © 2016 Islands of Cats

Last week, Malta welcomed 500 veterinary surgeons for the annual ISFM European Feline Congress, which takes place in different European destinations. In his report on on July 3rd Times of Malta online, Dr Martin Debattista writes:

"If you are a cat owner, breeder, cattery operator or a stray cat feeder and you like to stay updated with what is happening in world cat health, I strongly recommend that you check out the website run by the International Cat Care – which is available at http://icatcare.org/advice.

Whether you are a dedicated cat carer, feline breeder or simply a cat owner interested in matters relating to cat health, you will be able to read about several feline conditions worth knowing about.

The website also provides valuable advice as to how best work together with your veterinarian in the treatment and care needed by your cat. You can also sign up for a free monthly e-magazine."

Another interesting note was that due to a busier lifestyle, more pet owners seem to turn to cats rather than dogs. Click here to read full article.

Today, the cat is the #1 favourite pet. iCatCare is a good resource for many topics around cats, pet and stray alike.