Her story

The woman who never stops.

When you arrive at our shelter, you will meet Sofia — we simply call her Superwoman, or Saint Sofia, because almost single-handedly she has saved thousands of Corfu’s cats. She still feeds multiple colonies around town every single day, on top of being at the shelter every morning and every evening.

Years of witnessing cruelty, neglect and indifference towards stray animals on her island have made her fiercely protective of every cat she cares for. She believes that every adopter and volunteer should earn the trust of the cats by proving they are committed, responsible and genuinely care about animal welfare.

Anyone who has met Sofia knows she is not all rainbows and sunshine from the very first moment. She is wonderfully direct, honest and says exactly what she thinks. But what she may not always express with words, she more than makes up for with extraordinary love, loyalty and dedication to every stray — dog or cat. If you show consistency, logic and care towards her charges, you will earn her trust… and perhaps even be accepted as one of the cats.

Sofia is well known among the locals, and her phone is almost never silent. Yet she is just one woman — with a family, with everyday human worries and responsibilities — who still makes sure the cats come first. Whether it is storm, hail or scorching summer heat, she will be out feeding cats at the shelter, at feeding stations or beside rubbish bins. She will stop to pick up an injured animal, and she will even stop to gently collect a cat that has passed away, so it can be buried with dignity.

For Sofia, caring for stray cats is not simply volunteering — it has become her life’s mission. She is just as comfortable holding a screwdriver as she is feeding a tiny kitten with a nursing bottle. She knows the names of every cat currently at the shelter, remembers countless cats who have already found homes, and never forgets those who are no longer with us, or where they are buried. She also knows the medical history and personality of nearly every one of our almost 200 residents.

People often ask us how one person can do so much. The truth is, we ask ourselves the same question every day.