Feline sanctuaries
The Cats of Rome

Perhaps one of the most emblematic images of Rome: cats calmly prowling around some of the world’s best-known archaeological sites as if they owned them, sprawling with aristocratic disdain along some ancient monument as they soak up the mediterranean sunshine. There are more than 120,000 stray cats stalking the Eternal City!

By Emiliano Pretto
january 2009

It’s impossible to visit Rome without noticing the huge numbers of stray cats which live in the historic centre, not to mention the city’s archaeological sites, home to thriving feline communities, where the cat is king.
Romans hold a deep-rooted affection for these cats who have an ancient bond with the city. Modern Roman felines are blessed with a special band of protectors known locally as gattare, or cat ladies.

The gattare feed, spay, provide medical treatment and otherwise care for all the cats that they find, including the great number of felines abandoned by their owners during summer vacation. The cat ladies have founded several feline sanctuaries across the city, the most famous being the ones in largo Argentina not far from piazza Venezia, and within the grounds of the Protestant cemetery in the shadow of the massive Pyramid of Caius Cestius in the Testaccio district. More properly known as the Cimitero Acattolico, or non-Catholic cemetery, this lovely spot houses the graves, among others, of the English poets Keats and Shelley and the Italian political theorist Antonio Gramsci.
“ We feed and take care of the strays,” explains one of the Piramide cat ladies. “We pay for them to be sterilized and in some cases we can find new homes for them.”
The sacred area of Torre Argentina, which contains some of Rome’s earliest temples, was first excavated in 1929. Cats moved into the protected below-street level shortly after.
The Torre Argentina sanctuary was founded in 1994 by Lia Dequel, a retired cruise ship boutique director together with another cat lover, Silvia Viviani, The shelter was set up right next to the archaeological site with its four Republican era Roman temples five meters below street level
Through donations from well-wishers, visiting tourists and fundraising efforts, the sanctuary evolved into a professional operation, taking care of the cats by providing daily food and medical assistance while sharing funds with the poorer sanctuaries around Rome when they were available.
Money is especially vital to pay for the veterinary costs of spaying the strays, who number between 250 and 600 at Torre Argentina, depending on the season. Last year, the shelter spayed more than 1,500 cats throughout Rome. Many cats arrive at the shelter in a pitiful condition, victims of accidents or maltreatment. Without the dedicated work of the gattare many would not survive. Once cured some of the animals are found new homes through the shelter’s adoption service.

More information about how Rome’s cats are looked after may be obtained from the sanctuaries themselves of from the City Council, which has a special office dealing with the protection of stray animals (tel.: 06.32650568).
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A very special cat lady

Without doubt the most famous gattara was the Oscar-winning film star Anna Magnani. The actress lived nearby Torre Argentina and regularly brought food to members of the feline colony there. She also lived in a house full of cats.

Anna Magnani, the most famous gattara
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Feline sanctuaries of Rome

- Associazione culturale colonia felina Torre Argentina
Tel.: 06.45425240
- Rifugio Felino dei Gatti della Piramide - Via del Campo Boario
Tel.: 06.5756085
- Oasi Felina di Villa Flora - via Portuense 610 c/o Villa Flora
Tel.: 06.65749035
- Oasi Felina Porta Portese - Via Portuense, 39
Tel.: 06.5895445