Businessman donates car to help ‘cat lady’

A PAPHOS businessman has stepped in to help a dedicated cat lover by providing her with a car after hers broke down during her regular stray cat feeding route in the town.

Gaynor Georgiou, 73, affectionately known as the “cat lady”, said she was overwhelmed by the generosity shown by David Mitchell, of David Mitchell’s Motor Store in Geroskipou, after her car was deemed scrap.

“I don’t know this man. God bless him for what he’s done for me. It’s a miracle, and I couldn’t carry on without him.”

The showroom owner has given Mrs Georgiou a Fiat Ibiza to use for a year, but said this arrangement will be renewed annually and will continue indefinitely.

Mrs Georgiou’s vehicle broke down just ahead of Christmas, leaving her with no transport to complete her daily rounds in Paphos old town, which sees her feed 160 or so stray and unwanted cats.

She attempted to do her daily rounds pushing a shopping trolley but said: “I just couldn’t do it, I only managed one day, it was too much for me.”

Mrs Georgiou contacted local business woman and friend, Judith Evans, whose husband, Mark, approached Mr Mitchell. He was pleased to be able to help.

Mrs Georgiou spends hundreds of euros of her own money on the cats but is reliant on donations for the animals, which amounts to at least 20kg of food every three days. She has been doing this for the last 27 years.