04:30Et tu, Cattus? Locals turn Julius Caesar’s assassination site into feline sanctuary in Rome
Dozens of cats have the privilege of living in Torre Argentina in Rome, where General Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC.
At the Cat Sanctuary Feline Colony of Torre Argentina, cats can be seen walking around the historical building and being treated by volunteers, while many visitors stop by to take pictures and admire the animals, as recorded in footage on Monday.
"They are privileged cats, in quotes, within their misfortune as stray cats. They are in a place full of history and culture," said Valentina Faiella, one of the volunteers at Torre Argentina.
"Here Julio Cesar was murdered. Yes, Julio Cesar has been murdered here but the cats are not interested in this. They are interested in lying down to sunbathe, being with us, the volunteers, and being with the visitors when they come. But they don't know the real history of Torre Argentina," she added.
The shelter is the home of many cats facing health problems, such as blindness and disability, and the sterilisation of the felines is considered the top priority of the institution.
"If in Rome there were more than 500,000 stray cats 30 years ago, now there are about 90,000. They are many but they are fewer. In fact, in Rome, the people and tourists who come congratulate us because there are no stray cat problem," explained the volunteer Monica Baraschi.
Cats reportedly began to make their way to the historical building during excavations at the site in 1929.
The colony is financed by donations from individuals, and the cats are also available for adoption.
04:30Dozens of cats have the privilege of living in Torre Argentina in Rome, where General Julius Caesar was murdered in 44 BC.
At the Cat Sanctuary Feline Colony of Torre Argentina, cats can be seen walking around the historical building and being treated by volunteers, while many visitors stop by to take pictures and admire the animals, as recorded in footage on Monday.
"They are privileged cats, in quotes, within their misfortune as stray cats. They are in a place full of history and culture," said Valentina Faiella, one of the volunteers at Torre Argentina.
"Here Julio Cesar was murdered. Yes, Julio Cesar has been murdered here but the cats are not interested in this. They are interested in lying down to sunbathe, being with us, the volunteers, and being with the visitors when they come. But they don't know the real history of Torre Argentina," she added.
The shelter is the home of many cats facing health problems, such as blindness and disability, and the sterilisation of the felines is considered the top priority of the institution.
"If in Rome there were more than 500,000 stray cats 30 years ago, now there are about 90,000. They are many but they are fewer. In fact, in Rome, the people and tourists who come congratulate us because there are no stray cat problem," explained the volunteer Monica Baraschi.
Cats reportedly began to make their way to the historical building during excavations at the site in 1929.
The colony is financed by donations from individuals, and the cats are also available for adoption.