As you know, our association’s goal is to enable the Andros cats to live on their island. Flying large numbers of cats to Germany and finding homes for them here is not our focus—we simply don’t have the resources for that. And yet, every year, around ten cats manage to get a ticket to a new life. These are precisely the animals that have little chance of survival on Andros: medical emergencies or cats that are simply too exhausted to endure another winter.
We usually report on these cats in our travel reports and annual reviews.
Today, however, we would like to dedicate a separate story to two very special cats: Data and Scotty. Two true Andros veterans who have been with us for many years and who share a deep friendship. Both are almost ten years old. We know Data’s age for sure, but we can only guess at Scotty’s. A proud age for strays, which they owe not least to the care of our Greek friends on site. But even for experienced street cats, there comes a time when a new chapter in their lives can begin.
Let us tell their story…
Data was born in July 2016 – many months before Marie laid the foundation for our animal welfare work with her vacation trip to Andros and long before we became active there as an association. The first photo of the little gray tiger was taken on July 10, 2016.
Our friend A. took him into the cat group she cares for at her house, and he has stayed there ever since. In late summer 2016, however, he still needed to eat a lot to grow into his huge bat ears!
Data’s companions are: Amy I, who has been missing since mid-2022; Amy II, who left in October 2021 due to ear cancer and lives with our Chloe after Chloe’s partner Sophus passed away; Tiffy, whom we sadly last saw in April 2025; and Liane, who still lives at the house.
We were able to see for ourselves during our Andros trip in February 2020 that Data felt completely at ease there and appreciated the food.
By June 2020, Data had grown into a magnificent tomcat, …
… Scotty appeared at this feeding site.
His story remains shrouded in mystery. He was about the same age as Data and presumably looking for a safe haven with regular food. He chose this very spot—and stayed. But it wasn’t just food and shelter that kept him there: From the very beginning, he shared a close friendship with Data.
Here’s a small photo gallery of our two feline friends from 2021 to 2023:
When A. was not on Andros and the group did not find their usual food supply at their house, the cats simply walked the short distance to our friend S., who also takes care of a larger group of cats at his house, and let themselves be fed there – Data and Scotty too, of course!
Life could have continued carefree, but in 2024 we noticed that Scotty wasn’t feeling well. He caught cat flu and was treated immediately, and as a precaution, also tested for FIV and FeLV – thankfully, the results were negative.
This year, too, passed for the two of them in the best of friendships, as usual. Nevertheless, we added Scotty to our list of potential travel cats – not urgently yet, but we didn’t want to overlook him. And if possible, he should of course be able to travel with his best friend.
In the spring of 2025, Scotty suffered from cat flu again and was taken to the vet during our April trip.
Data, too, no longer seemed quite so youthful. Both were now well over eight years old, and even with good care, this time leaves its mark on stray cats.
Scotty moved further up the travel list. Data did too, because for our two association´s board members, Jörg and Lavinia, it was a given that they wouldn’t separate the two after all these years! What would become of Data if he were left behind alone? Would he perhaps wander off and disappear without a trace? Would Scotty, with his failing health and the stress of travel, be able to cope without his friend?
But there were still more urgent cases that needed to travel to Germany in 2025. Summer was also approaching – a time that is more bearable for the cats on Andros. Nevertheless, we couldn’t help but think of the two of them…
Summer passed, and so did autumn. Winter 2025/2026 drew near – and Data and Scotty were still on Andros. Then we received a message from our friend A. that she would be spending Christmas and New Year’s on the island. We absolutely had to seize this opportunity!
We asked A. to get the two cats ready for travel as soon as possible, as this requires some lead time. We also wanted to have their health checked and therefore had them tested more thoroughly. Our friend was immediately on board, as she too had repeatedly and cautiously asked us if Data and Scotty might possibly, just maybe, come to Germany…? Fortunately, a trusted foster home was available for us, and she replied to our inquiry that she were „so empty right now anyway“.
But how would the two get to Germany? A trip wasn’t on the cards at the moment. Would we be able to find a flight companion so quickly? And here, too, fate smiled upon us. Some time ago, we got in touch with someone who had been following our activities for a long time and would gladly support us if needed. She could even imagine spontaneously flying to Athens for two or three days if we wanted to let cats leave the country. Would she have time for us now?
And did she ever! We were overjoyed when we received her confirmation for the flight!
So, after almost ten years as street cats, Data and Scotty spent their last days in their homeland.
A. then took the two to Athens, where they waited patiently and happily together for their flight.
Our flight companion is an experienced frequent flyer, often even with instruments as oversized luggage, but even seasoned travelers fly with animals for the first time. But no worries! A. not only brought Data and Scotty to the airport, but, as so often before, she actively helped with check-in and security.
But she, too, gets nervous every time, because the Aegean Airlines staff are always coming up with new rules that A. has to eloquently argue away. Sometimes it’s suddenly not allowed to additionally secure the two halves of a transport box with cable ties; they have to be fastened with screws. Another time, it’s not enough for a box to have ventilation slots on two sides in addition to the grid door; but all sides have to be ventilated. And this time, they claimed that a flight ticket had been booked for only one cat, not two, which A. thankfully quickly refuted.
Finally, nothing stood in the way; the two cats embarked on their big journey and were met by Jörg in Berlin after a punctual flight.
The journey to the foster home also went without incident, and the two feline friends were finally able to stretch their legs and inspect their new home!
Data and Scotty have now completed their initial examinations. Thankfully, their negative FIV and FeLV tests have been confirmed in our lab work. They are currently being treated for the mycoplasma they brought with them, and the mild anemia Scotty was diagnosed with in his blood work from Athens has also cleared up.
Of course, there are still a few things we’ll be addressing, but for nearly ten-year-old street cats, they’re doing remarkably well. Their organ function is also normal, which is by no means a given for such old cats!
They are now enjoying the attention and loving care at our foster home and are looking a little better every day.
Please keep your fingers crossed that Data and Scotty can remain best friends for a long time!
We’ve compiled their journey of life together in this video:
You are expressly welcome to fall in love with these two incredibly friendly, social, and cuddly fellows and inquire about adopting them! Of course, they will only be placed together! (For those who need a little extra motivation: their foster home reports that they are very cooperative at the vet…)
Perhaps you would also like to support us in ensuring our Andros cats continue to have access to food? Data and Scotty are the best proof of how important this aspect of our animal welfare work is! Please consider using our current GoFundMe campaign, „Food for the Andros Cats“, or our bank details.
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