Finding your feline companion in Gennadi

Welcome to catsofgennadi! If you have fallen in love with a cat during your time in Gennadi, we completely understand. Many visitors feel a special connection with the cats here and want to offer one a home.

Please be aware, though, that we are a small group of volunteers and we do not run an adoption service. We are not usually able to organise, manage, or support individual adoptions. However, further down this page, you’ll find practical advice on what is involved, including travel requirements, vaccinations, paperwork, and possible transport options.

The cats of Gennadi aren’t in shelters; they live freely as part of the village environment. Some are already part of care or neutering programmes, often shown by a small ear-tip clip - a gentle, internationally recognised sign that a cat has been neutered and is being looked after. This helps avoid confusion and ensures cats are not accidentally removed from places where they are already safe and supported.

If you are interested in adopting a particular cat, you are welcome to email us with photos of the cat and its exact location. We can ask whether any of the volunteers may be able to offer local knowledge or limited guidance, but this cannot be guaranteed. Any adoption must be arranged and managed by the adopter, with the help of the advice provided below.

A thoughtful approach to adoption

At catsofgennadi, we know that choosing to adopt a cat from Gennadi often begins with a genuine connection. It can be a lovely and meaningful decision, but it is also a serious responsibility that involves time, planning, paperwork, veterinary care, and travel arrangements.

Please understand that we do not run or manage adoptions, and we cannot commit to supporting adopters through each step of the process. We are a small group of volunteers focused mainly on feeding, neutering, and caring for the local cat population.

That said, we want to help people make informed, responsible choices. The information below explains what is usually involved in adopting a cat from Rhodes, including health checks, vaccinations, microchipping, travel rules, and possible transport options. You are welcome to email us with details of the cat you are interested in, and we can ask whether any volunteer may be able to offer limited local advice. However, this depends entirely on availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Your guided journey to adoption

1. Initial Contact & Introduction

If you wish to adopt a cat, here's what you need to know in advance:

  • The cat must be at least 15 weeks old (approximately 3.5 months) at the time of travel.

  • A microchip registered in your name and/or in the name of the travel companion or partner organisation is required.

  • A rabies vaccination is mandatory, even though there are no reported rabies cases on Rhodes. It becomes valid 21 days after administration.

  • A general feline vaccination is recommended but not required.

  • Some countries may have additional requirements, such as tests for FIV and FeLV. It's best if you contact your local authorities directly. 

  • A spot-on treatment against internal and external parasites must be applied 2 days before travel.

  • For cats flying in the cabin, an IATA-certified soft carrier with at least four openings is required.

  • For cats travelling in cargo, a certified hard crate is necessary. In both cases, the cat must be able to sit and turn around comfortably inside the carrier, which must be appropriately sized.

2. Waiting period

Cats can travel 3 weeks after rabies vaccination, and kittens only once they are 4 months old. They will need safe care during this time, but foster homes in Rhodes are rarely available.

3. Flight escort

During summer, many travellers kindly help by accompanying animals on flights to their new homes, usually free of charge. If you still need a flight escort, you can post in the Facebook groups below. Be sure to include the number and type of animals, preferred travel dates, and destination.

English
Flight Companions Worldwide
https://www.facebook.com/groups/270716999682506/

Rhodes Travellers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/691281086357454/

German
Flugpaten Weltweit Gesucht
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1376353785959976/

Flugpaten aus Griechenland
https://www.facebook.com/groups/571706989704345/

Rhodos Entdecker
https://www.facebook.com/groups/142303122499655/

Dutch
Vlucht begeleiders – Flight Volunteers
https://www.facebook.com/groups/350486988411116/

Important notes for adoptions to the UK and other non-EU countries

Adopting a cat to the UK or another non-EU country is more complex than adopting within the EU, as extra rules apply. Your main options are:

  1. Pet transport service
    A professional pet transport service can arrange travel to the UK. We do not provide this directly, but we can help you understand the process. It is usually the simplest option, but also the most expensive. If the kitten is too young to travel later in the season, we can also look at alternatives via Athens.
  2. Flight to Heathrow via Athens with Aegean Airlines
    The kitten can travel to Heathrow either with you or with a flight escort. In both cases, the kitten flies in the hold, but using a flight escort is usually much cheaper.
  3. Flight to the Netherlands or Belgium
    The kitten can fly with a flight escort to Amsterdam or Brussels. You can then collect the kitten and continue to the UK by plane, ferry, car, or train. This can be easier from a regulations point of view, though it involves more time and extra travel costs.

"Because moving one small cat apparently requires the planning standards of a minor military exercise."