Rome, City of Cats
Roman cats, 2009. Photo by Ige Ramos.
Cats own Rome, I’d read. I suspect that when the Roman Empire collapsed and its buildings fell to ruin, cats took over. And cats, as biologists will tell you, are great invaders. When domestic cats were introduced to Australia they made a buffet of the local bird species, some of which have nearly disappeared.
The feline takeover of Rome probably happened much later, though. According to one theory, in the 17th century shepherds would bring their flocks to graze on the grass that covered the abandoned temples and arenas of the city. Rome had a serious rat problem at the time, and the shepherds made extra money by breeding and selling farm cats to the city folk.
Roman street tough, 2009. Photo by Ige Ramos.
Rome, City of Cats in Emotional Weather Report, Pet Life edition, our column in the Philippine Star.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
March 11th, 2012 at 10:14
With so many cats wandering about, maybe the city can be renamed… Roam?
:D
March 12th, 2012 at 23:23
Since you are Paris-bound.
http://annmah.net/2012/02/28/watch-cats/