Strolling through the historic center of Rome, you’ll surely pass Largo di Torre Argentina, a spacious excavated square just a short distance from the Pantheon. Upon closer inspection, you’ll discover not only an intriguing array of ancient temples but also a charming cat colony that calls the ruins home.
In the 1920s, Torre Argentina began to shelter a growing population of feral cats, who traditionally found refuge among Rome’s ancient ruins. For many years, these stray cats, including the cats of Torre Argentina, were tended to by ‘gattare’ (cat ladies) who provided them with food and care sporadically. In 1994, volunteers established the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary, focusing on spaying and neutering the cats to manage their population more effectively.
Torre Argentina Cat Population
In the year 2025, the cat population of Torre Argentina is estimated to be around 150 felines, Culture Trip reports. Dedicated volunteers are actively caring for, feeding, and vaccinating cats throughout the city, with a significant presence in the ruins.
Visit The Cat Sanctuary In Rome
The cat sanctuary welcomes visitors daily from noon to 6 PM, allowing cat enthusiasts to meet the furry residents and shop for souvenirs in their Cat Shop. Additionally, the sanctuary facilitates adoptions, helping to find loving homes for the animals and offering distance adoptions to ensure a continuous flow of essential donations.
Future For Stray Cats In Rome
Despite the archaeological authorities’ controversial push to close the cat sanctuary due to concerns about its impact on the dignity and conservation of ancient holy sites, petitions supporting the sanctuary garnered over 30,000 signatures, raising significant awareness and ultimately helping to preserve it. However, while a compromise has been reached for the time being, the sanctuary still faces the looming threat of eviction and increasingly relies on the support and donations of its visitors to ensure that the historic cats of Rome can continue to call it home.
