Free housing on a Greek island in exchange for caring for cats

Living for free on a Greek island in exchange for caring for cats

An offer circulated by 20minutos proposes a swap as simple as it is unusual: free accommodation on a Greek island in exchange for looking after cats. The ad asks for no qualifications or experience; it asks for hands at a cat shelter, with tasks that go beyond filling the food bowl. Whoever takes the job will have to take cats to the vet, welcome shelter visitors and, mind you, trap feral cats to have them sterilised.

What the deal involves

The catch is in the fine print. The carer is not a guest: they are labour for a cat colony. Trapping feral cats for sterilisation is one of the listed tasks, which already suggests the role involves management, not just cuddles. In return, the accommodation is free, though no one has specified whether meals are part of the deal. The question is legitimate: do they feed you, clothe you and hand out aspirins? There is a lingering doubt over whether the "free living" is a bargain or disguised work.

The awkward question

The black hole is the previous carer. In the reactions to the offer, the recurring question is whether anyone knows anything about the person who held the post before. There are no details, just the question, and that has taken the shine off the enthusiasm. There has also been speculation about an alleged selection process that would include a cat trivia exam, more suited to a dinner-table chat than a shelter. Irony is the natural response to an offer that sounds too good to be true. At the time of writing, the only thing that is clear is that the shelter needs hands and that, on paper, the swap is worth it for anyone after a low-cost season on an island.