When Travel Becomes
Another Kind of Life
A group of cats is waiting for you every morning, and the sea is never far away.
Syros Island, Greece
This is not a holiday package. Syros Cats, a rescue group in Greece, is seriously looking for long-stay volunteers.
"This is absolutely not a holiday."
What Does a Day Look Like?
Start work: feed street cats, beach cats, and special-needs cats, then handle medication, eye cleaning, and wound care.
Clean litter trays, sweep and mop, wash bedding and towels, and tidy the cat areas.
Cuddle cats, help kittens socialise for adoption, pull weeds, and sometimes drive cats to the vet.
Come back for dinner feeding, then do one final round through the cat spaces before finishing the day.
Who Is This Right For?
Best suited to people aged 25 and above with solid self-management skills.
One month minimum, with a strong preference for longer-term volunteers.
Your own bedroom, with a shared kitchen and bathroom, usually alongside around four volunteers.
You pay for flights, food, and travel insurance.
Syros Cats also offers short holiday-volunteering options through partner travel platforms. If you only have a few days or a week or two, you can still try lighter tasks like cat cuddling, brushing, or cleaning alongside the regular team before flying back home.
Trading labour for sea views and purring sounds feels romantic, but remember the first line on their official site: this is not a vacation.
Sis' Take
This time I sorted it into two routes for you: do you want deep volunteering, or volunteering with extra island fun?
Going for the long-stay cat volunteer route?
If flight booking convenience matters more,
Trip.com is the easier fit.
Only have a few days?
Want to volunteer and still hop around on ferries afterwards?
Klook fits that mood better.
Last round brought in 35,000 applications worldwide, and applications for 2027 open in September 2026. Prepare an English CV and relevant volunteer experience early if you want a stronger chance. ♡
It is still labour-intensive work, just with purring cats and a wide-open sea instead of an office view.
2027 slots · Applications open September 2026