Memorial to Tanya Burr, 1981-2002
Rome's Famous Cats
Tanya with a very relaxed Roman cat - 1 September 2002
Rome's
Cat Lovers Out Of The Closet
23/02/2003
07:48 AM
Reuters
A couple of
thousand cat lovers have turned out for Rome's first "Cat Pride" march
to demand protection and funding for the city's thousands of strays.
Donning whiskers, bearing signs and in some cases cradling cats in their arms,
protesters streamed on Saturday by the Colosseum and ancient Fori Imperiali
ruins, home to many "sacred strays" which Rome declared a part of its
historical heritage last year.
The stray cats have been slinking through the ruins since they were first
excavated and their protectors believe they are descendants of felines who
stalked Roman temples in the time of Julius Caesar more than 2,000 years ago.
But cat rights groups say the city's 150,000 abandoned moggies get far from
imperial treatment from residents.
Last year, a string of stray cat killings sparked fears of a feline serial
killer and highlighted the city's love-hate relationship with domestic animals
who are often abandoned on the streets.
The city's "gattare", or "cat ladies", marched to demand
government aid for cat shelters and neutering programmes and more help from the
general public in protecting and feeding the animals.
"The cat ladies and men of Rome are finally coming out of the closet!"
organisers declared in posters.
http://xtramsn.co.nz/news/0,,3884-2171353,00.html
Stray cats awarded heritage status in Rome
Stray cats which hang around Rome's historical monuments have been awarded heritage protection by the city.
Rome's council has declared 150 cats which prowl the archaeological ruins of Torre Argentina part of the city's biocultural heritage.
The council has committed itself to preserving them.
In a statement, it said they have a "well established and ancient bond with the city".
Il Nuovo website reports they are currently fed and cared for by voluntary associations.
The council says it will help the volunteers financially to make sure the cats are properly looked after.
Ananova - Story filed: 17:59 Tuesday 18th December 2001
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_476705.html
Some other websites on Rome's cats.
Calender: Cats of Rome (the 2003 cat calendar Tanya bought in Rome - below)
