Animal welfare organisations across Cyprus have suspended all Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes for stray cats to protect volunteers from ongoing physical and verbal abuse.
The Cyprus Federation of Animal Welfare Organisations announced the immediate strike after volunteers faced months of threats, complaints, and assaults while catching stray cats for sterilisation.
Organisers said the state has failed to protect these individuals, who frequently fund the sterilisations themselves. Instead of receiving support, volunteers have been taken to police stations and treated as offenders, while police actively obstruct their efforts.
The federation warned that halting the scientifically recognised, humane programmes will lead to uncontrolled breeding, increased animal suffering, and a crisis that local municipalities will struggle to manage.
Animal welfare groups said they will only resume operations once authorities issue official written authorisations for their work, which they noted has long covered up the shortcomings of competent state bodies.