Katelios KAT
Katelios KAT
We are a small group of volunteers who joined the KAT charity in the belief we can help to make a difference to the stray cats and dogs of the southern end of the island.
We work as a team, some of us having been part of the charity from the beginning, in 2003. Others have joined along the way, feeling they too have something to offer in helping the cause.
We have a very small dedicated group of people, who daily (regardless of weather) go out to the villages to feed, monitor and trap the cats for neutering, or for them to be assessed by vets for health issues.
In the early years, with the agreement of our local vets, foreign vets offered to come and neuter what cats we could catch, all for the cost of their food and accommodation. In a 5-day period we regularly neutered over 100 cats, saving the charity a huge amount of money. This still happens but is now heavily regulated by the local authority, in what we call TNRs – Trap, Neuter, Return.
We are all involved with fundraising, whether it be from organising and manning the stalls or baking at the bazaars and book sales, to selling raffles tickets or producing weekly quizzes.
The popularity of our first annual Big Bazaar (now the Spring Bazaar), lead to the island’s first charity shop, which we opened in a friend’s shop in Skala, initially for three mornings a week during the winter months, around 2009.
From there we set up a monthly book sale at a bar in Katelios and where we first introduced the food element, which proved so popular it became a fortnightly event – everyone loves a good book and we were inundated with books from tourists!
Eventually, we had to move to larger premises, where together with the books, food and refreshments we introduced second-hand clothes and household goods.
This now has become a widely enjoyed Sunday morning social event. Like all our fundraising events, all the proceeds go to support the neutering and welfare programme of the KAT charity.
As Drew mentioned, we would be delighted to welcome new volunteers and members to the KAT family, or any other ideas for fundraising.
Drew and Jan
My name is Drew and I can be found up to my neck in books! Along with my wife Jan I have lived on Kefalonia for the past eighteen months and together we volunteer for the KAT booksales/coffee mornings.
Prior to that we travelled between Kefalonia and England every 6 months, we are now here for good now!
At the bazaars, Janet enjoys “persuading” people to buy as many raffle tickets as possible, probably why they all run when they see her coming!
Hopefully more people will volunteer!
Vikki (former KATs Committee member)
I have lived here now for nearly 30 years and have been involved with KATs from the beginning.
I live in Ano Katelios with three dogs and thirty something cats-too scared to count!
I feed the stray cats in my village of Ano Katelios, along with Izzy, Pat and other friends who feed and monitor the welfare of the cats in Katelios and the surrounding area. I regularly rescue dumped or ill cats and kittens, hence the large number of cats at home!
I organise and run the bric-a-brac stall at the fortnightly book sale/coffee mornings.
Kevin and Sue
We moved to Ano Katelios in 2012 and became members of KATs as we enjoy working for a worthwhile cause.
We have been recruited to organise the raffles at the local KATs bazaars and other fundraisers.
Sue also bakes for the food stall at the fortnightly book sales/coffee mornings
Wendy
I moved to Kefalonia 19 years ago and have been a member of the charity for many years.
I have worked at the charity shop in Skala but more recently, I assist on and bake for the cake stall at the fortnightly book sales/coffee mornings.
I also feed the stray cats in the area close to my house in Thiramonas and rescued/adopted a couple of ‘lost’ dogs.
Izzy
I have been living permanently in Valeriano since 2020, with my mother Wanda and partner Philip but had been visiting on a regular basis for a number of years prior to this. During our time here, Philip and I have rescued many cats for veterinary treatment and neutering, returning them to the place they were found when fully recovered but making sure we monitor and feed them regularly. Others however, have become house cats due to health issues or that we just fell in love with them!
I help Pat in feeding the stray cats in the surrounding villages and catching and transporting cats to the vets for neutering and medical checks.
Philip has been a very generous benefactor to the charity (and the local school), sending us an array of goods from the UK to sell at the sales and bazaars.
Carol and Gerald
We moved to Ano Katelios in 2005 and have supported the charity for many years. Carol is mostly involved with organising and baking for the bazaars and book sales – she is renowned for her sausage rolls and other delights!
Gerald is Jean’s “water boy”, ensuring a constant supply of water to keep the kettles topped up at the book sales/coffee mornings and bazaars, as well as general lifting and shifting duties!
Over the years we have rescued a number of stray dogs – or they have decided to adopt us!
Pat
Me and my husband, Mick, moved to Valeriano in 2020. Alongside Izzy, we daily feed many of the stray cats in the Valeriano, Hionata, Thiramonas, Ano Katelios and Katelios areas. We catch the cats for neutering and take for health checks.
On Christmas morning, all the cats on our round get a present of a plate of wet food with a wormer in it and a ‘spot-on’ for fleas and ticks. This is generally funded by donations from supporters of the charity. Many locals have commented on how much healthier the cats look.
Every fortnight Izzy and I volunteer to organise and man the clothes stall, together with Izzy’s mum, Wanda.
My mum, Pat Ball, also used to feed the cats in Katelios and rescued many cats and dogs throughout her years living here. Mum was also a keen knitter and many supporters have bought her knitted cat mats and figures that were sold at the bazaars.