Rome fosters feline frolics in the forum
Date: 19-Dec-01
Country: ITALY
Rome's council has nominated the 150 cats who sunbathe around the Roman temples of "Torre Argentina", an archaeological site in the very centre of the eternal city, as a part of the city's historical heritage.
"There is a deep-rooted affection for these cats who have an ancient bond with the city," the council said in a statement.
Cats of all kinds have always lived in the shadow of the ancient stones of Rome, receiving food and care from citizens, leading the council to declare them "biocultural heritage".
"The cats are as old as the ruins themselves, the ancient Romans had them as domestic pets as well and now we need to look after them," Patrizia Tripepi, head of the council's animal rights office, told Reuters.
The historical colony of cats at Torre Argentina, fed and cared for by voluntary organisations, will now be the most pampered stray cat colony of Rome's estimated 300,000 moggies.
