This book might seem, at first glance, to be just an excuse to coo over Italian felines. And it totally is. But it is also a truly interesting look at an aspect of Rome and Roman culture that many people may have no knowledge of, or have only heard of it in passing. I ad no idea that the Cats of Rome were a thing. Like a real, integral part of Rome and its culture. They are not just recognized on souvenirs, but are living in colonies that are recognized and subsidized by the government.
It makes sense, really, and I enjoyed the way the author talked about her search for the cats and their caretakers. I appreciated the way that the chapters are broken up according to the colonies' locations, as each one has specific characteristics and covers a very specific area. The pictures are a brilliant mix of cute cats in historically amazing locations. If I ever get to visit Rome, I will now be looking to see these cats, who have more access to amazing historical and archaeological sites than almost any human. Especially the last two Coliseum cats - Tigretta and Augusto.
If you are a cat lover, or interested in a new look at Rome, I'd definitely recommend picking up this book. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read the book.

If you love cats, photography, or just the idea of wandering through the ancient streets of Rome, Cats of Rome by Traer Scott is an absolute treat! This dazzling collection of 75 color photographs captures the beauty and mystery of Rome’s iconic cats in their natural habitat, nestled among the city’s ancient ruins, parks, and neighborhoods. With over 300,000 cats roaming the city, many of them feral, this book offers a rare glimpse into the lives of these beloved felines who are protected by law and allowed to live freely throughout the city.

Scott’s lens brings to life the cats’ majestic beauty against the stunning backdrops of Rome’s classical architecture, from the Colosseum to the Porta Magica ruins. The photos are not just gorgeous but also tell the story of the gattaras—Rome’s unsung heroines who care for these feral colonies, ensuring they are safe and looked after.

What makes Cats of Rome even more special is the way Scott combines her love for photography and her passion for animal welfare. She takes readers on a visual journey through the cat colonies, pairing each chapter with a bit of history and insight into how these felines became part of Rome’s rich tapestry.

Whether you’re an armchair traveler dreaming of Rome or a cat lover searching for the ultimate coffee table book, Cats of Rome is a must-have. It’s a stunning celebration of feline beauty and Roman history that will make you want to visit—and maybe even adopt a Roman cat! 🐾📸

Can I please get one of these for every major city. I love this so much. I cannot wait to get my hands on a copy of the physical book. The book is filled with cat photos that are grouped by monuments. Each one gives you a brief description of the site and then lots of photos of cats. This is two of my favorite things in one book; history and cats.

5 stars

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. I thought this would just be a fun coffee table book. That would have been just fine, but this brought so much more to the table (pardon my pun). It was fascinating. The introduction reads like a beautiful essay detailing the history of the cats the wander the city and this photographer's journey to spot them. Wonderful photojournalism. I had no idea there were thousands of colonies of feral cats living in Rome and that they are federally protected. The stories of the gattaras, the compassionate women who feed the cats, were equally incredible.

The photos themself are stunning. The cats are beautiful, these "guardians of the Eternal City." A magical way to see the city.

This is the perfect gift for cat and history lovers. Thoughtfully composed, I felt the photographer/author's deep respect for the city and for the cats.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced digital copy. This is set for publication on Apr 21, 2025.

A lovely tribute to Rome and the beautiful feline residents of the city! Great gift for any lovers of cats and the beautiful city.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review! This is such a fun read filled with information and pictures of the cat colonies in Rome. It would make a gorgeous coffee table book and would be great for animal lovers, history fans, and pretty much anyone else.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. The photos of the various cats were gorgeous! I like how the author patiently waits to spot the cats to get photos. It’s cool that there are people that feed the various cats located all over Rome.

Thank you to Net Galley for this e- copy of Cats of Rome by Traer Scott in exchange for a honest review. This book contains beautiful pictures of the cats that live in colonies around the city of Rome. Some are friendly and some avoid human interaction.I loved that the animals are very comfortable living and relaxing amid archeological ruins. Perfect for cat lovers like me.

Thanks to netgalley and publisher for this arc!

As the biggest cat fan I had to read this! I was intrigued especially since the two times I was in Roma I never saw one cat but I learned a lot about the Roman cats from this book and of course loved the pictures of all the adorable kitties! I also really loved hearing about the women who take care of the 4000+ feral kitties around the city🥺😻😸

What a beautiful little book describing the feral cats of Rome. Great photos and a great love letter to feral kitties. I’ve never been to Rome but if I ever go I’ll be sure to take this as a guide. As a cat lover I’d totally be a cat caretaker if I lived in Rome.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Simply a must read for cat lovers and those with an interest in historical architecture. I learned a great deal about Rome's protected cat population and the generous souls who care for them. The lovely pictures kept me engaged throughout the night; I didn't want to put this down.

This will make a fantastic learning resource and a delightful coffee table book. The pages are filled with interesting topics for discussion and appealing photography.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy. All opinions are my own.

Beautiful book about the cat colonies that live in Rome. This book not only provides adorable photos of the cats in historic places, but it also gives background on the locations, history of the cats, and shows how important that the cats are to the residents and tourists of Rome alike.

~~~ I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ~~~

I love cats and have visited Rome, Italy. Many European cities have large colonies of cats including Athens, Patmos Island, and Capri (just to name a few I've visited) and I remember seeing the bowls people leave out on their porches for the feral cats.
Cats of Rome is interesting. It contains some nice history and information about the protected cats of Italy- with lots of photos of cats. The stories about the gattaras is kind of cool. However, it is not that interesting to give it more than 3 stars. The photographs and the writing both seem amateurish. I guess this book would be cool to have on display in a veterinarian waiting room or something, but other than that, I don't think it's very cool or worthwhile.

I love cats and will definitely stop and look at any book containing cat pictures! I had no idea there was a protected feral population in Rome, so I learned something new! I think it's really neat how the author/photographer showcased these felines.

This is the perfect coffee table book for any space!

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the opportunity to review this ARC.

Cats of Rome by Traer Scott starts off with a lovely introduction providing background to the lovely felines inhabiting Rome. Traer addresses the phenomenon of how once the streets were flooded with these fury friends, now typically spotted as photos on bags and mugs. This depiction portrays the gruesome reality of sterilization and removal of these cats through history, now profiting of their idea.
Moving through the introduction, the reader learns more about the numerous feline colonies that inhabit Rome and the ‘gattaras’, the female volunteers caring for these feral felines. These women go above and beyond to care for them, often commuting far distances to ensure they are fed and loved.
With the conclusion of the introduction, readers dive into Traer Scott’s photography of these felines at various monuments and stunning locations, providing brief background for each.
This book is a lovely tribune to the feral residents who should be protected at all costs.

Exactly what I needed | I get it, times are tough and it may be hard to justify the expense of a coffee table book of cat photography. But go with me on this: times are tough and it's the gentle and the kind and the feline that will make them easier to manage. In the middle of all that's always going on anymore, it can only help to have at hand the opportunity to read about the women who volunteer throughout Rome to feed and care for feral cat colonies. When anxiety or stress raise their heads, why not reach for well-composed photographs of content cats? It is a bit difficult to fully review the book, because the necessary protective watermark is smack dab in the middle of most of the images. However, the layout, the presentation, the production, and the text are all excellent, and the photography where visible is quality

I admit, I was mostly interested in this because I love cats and will never pass up an opportunity to look at cute pictures of them. However, as someone who has never been to Rome, I appreciate that there was a lot of context explaining the presence of the cats in this ancient city and how things have been changing in recent years. To be fair, the photos are still the star of the show. I loved seeing cats in unique parts of the city; my favorite being the cemetery section. Overall, this is exactly the type of book I want on my coffee table to show off to all my house guests.