But the life of Roman cats is far from idyllic, as hundreds of thousands of abandoned, afflicted and suffering cats seek shelter below busy streets in excavation areas and archaeological sites. Romans, and Italians in general, refuse to sterilize companion animals, increasing the suffering and the numbers of unwanted dogs and cats. The number of former pets abandoned in Rome increased by 15 percent last year, translating into tens of thousands of animals. As a result, Torre Argentina is calling for an international adoption alert. Torre Argentina is home to 250 cats, nestled in the heart of the Area Sacra archeological ruins, one of the city's oldest temples.
Ancient history meets Hollywood here, along with global culture.
Julius Caesar was murdered at Torre Argentina in 44 BC, and centuries later, the great Italian film star Anna Magnani began feeding strays on her breaks from Teatro Argentina, the theater bordering the ruins. Now, approximately 8000 people visit the sanctuary annually, including legions of international volunteers. According to the aforementioned Viviani, who founded the shelter in 1994 with partner Lia Dequel, all visitors are united by respect for animals and have worked wonders for the city's abandoned cats through fundraising, adoption and volunteerism. Besides coordinating daily adoptions, volunteers feed the outdoor cats scattered around the ruins and watch vigilantly for newly abandoned cats, who must be trapped, altered and vaccinated. Inside the underground shelter, countless cages line the earthen walls and are filled with adoptable cats, all with nametags and files full of medical history.