There are an estimated 300,000 wild cats in Rome. The city council supports cats as part of the ancient heritage of Rome. In 2001, the cats that live in the Coliseum, the Forum and Torre Argentina were officially named part of the city’s “biological heritage”.
Torre Argentina and the cat sanctuary
Cats are fed in times of scarcity by the adorable Gattare, or “Cat Women.” In ancient times, the cat was highly valued for defending humanity against diseases transmitted by rodents such as the plague.
Another way humans interact with the cats of Rome is through a unique Sanctuary in the same place where Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC, the Torre Argentina, a sacred area that contains some of the oldest temples in Rome. . It was first excavated in 1929.
The cats moved to the protégé below street level shortly after, to be followed by the “gattare,” the most famous of which was the Italian movie star, Anna Magnani.
The Torre Argentina cat sanctuary later began in an area excavated under the street that was used as a night shelter for cats and as a food storage place. Through donations from visiting tourists and fundraising efforts, the sanctuary became a professional operation, caring for cats by feeding, sterilizing and providing medical assistance while sharing funds with Rome’s poorest sanctuaries when available.
