An adorable premise-who wouldn't love to see cats contrasted with the beaty of Rome? The context this work provides was an unexpected bonus. Sadly I had a very hard time reading/seeing the text due to copyright watermark and the images were extremely pixilated. 1 star for NetGalley Reader and readability but 3.5 stars for the book itself. Okay, fine, 4 stars because the fact that this even exists is a delight.

I wanted to check this book out because I absolutely love Cats! It has some interesting information that I would have never known about feral cats in Rome. It would make a nice gift for a cat lover. Very beautiful photos throughout. Just all around set up nicely. Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

This was a lovely book full of beautiful cats and corners of Rome! I absolutely loved learning that there are thousands of feral cats in Rome protected by law — and taken care of by the community of Gattaras. What a magical, special lifestyle and calling for these people (mainly women!) “caring for the guardians of the city” and devoted to “giving a huge part of their life over to the care of [the] iconic Roman residents.” It feels truly mystical to think that these Gattaras are given keys to different corners of the city where they feed and take care of their own cat colonies — and even pass the role down through generations.

I’ve been to many parts of Italy, but this book makes me excited to go see the cats of Rome myself one day!

As a cat lover of course I was going to pick up collection of photographs of the cats that live in cat colonies in Rome. The author takes some time to explain the history of and the current placement of the cat colonies, I wish the pictures that were interspersed with this section were a bit more relevant. The pictures themselves were nice, there were a few that took me a second to find the cats in them. Definitely a solid coffee table book for the cat lover.

Was kind of expecting a little better quality photos. I also wish that there were more photos of what we were reading. Like examples of the cats from the Colosseum gift shop would’ve been perfect. I think this is a great concept still and absolutely adorable, fun, and inspiring. I love Rome and sad that I didn’t see any cats when I visited. I did enjoy learning more about these creatures as well as the beautiful culture they reside in. The maps were also a great touch! Will update this feedback shortly.

I've long been fascinated about the over 300,000 feral cats that roam Rome. The author speaks to some of their volunteer caretakers, called. Le Gattere, and maps the locations of many of these colonies. It's an interesting look beyond the tourist take.

The true glory in this book is the photography. The author captures these fabulous felines in all manner of spots in Rome, frolicking in the ruins, stalking cemeteries, sunning themselves in courtyards, etc. If you enjoy cats and photography as much as I do, you'll dig this book.

I appreciate the advanced copy from NetGalley and Chronicle Books | Princeton Architectural Press.

Cats of Rome is a photographic guide to cat colonies in Rome. It includes short anecdotes about how the cats ended up in these areas and beautiful photographs of some of the cats. It is an entertaining tour of Rome via cat colonies.

I loved reading about the history of Rome and the feral cats that have lived there for generations. Some of the photos were exceptional while others were not. I appreciate the care that Romans are showing in caring for the cats and that they are utilizing the Trap, Neuter, Release Program to decrease to keep the population under control.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for the Advanced Reader's Copy.

This was a cute book that had some interesting facts about the cats in the area of Rome.

I didn't think that the pictures themselves were exceptional, but they were nice enough. I sort of felt that I could have taken similar photos if I had been there. But I did enjoy the explanations that went along with some of the photos. I do think that a physical copy without watermarks would probably be better than the digital copy that I had.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley but was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

I read this because I wanted to see gorgeous pictures of cats in Rome. It's so much more! The author has gone around Rome to see the cats for herself and talks to the people who care for them. Even though the cats are homeless, they are cared for as much as possible, with vaccines, food, and water. The cats also have affection and love from the community and visitors. The chapters introduce the reader to different parts of Rome, so I learned interesting facts about the city too. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

An enjoyable book for cat-lovers! I knew there were feral cats living in Rome but had no idea how many there were and that there were dedicated women who care for and feed them. The author goes on a journey to find and photograph many of these cats and I have to say this book made me smile and brought me joy. I enjoyed the photographs and the depiction of the author patiently waiting to see the cats. A fun book for people who love cats and also Rome.

Thank you to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.

Enjoyable! I was not familiar with the history of cats in Rome and found the narration very interesting. Photos captured the elusive nature of the cats.

The book is 146 pages long and contains many color photos of cats in various settings. Disappointingly, many of the photos weren't that great of either the cats or the architecture.

The introduction contains the most text. There's some text at the beginning of each of the eight chapters. There are pretty maps of Rome at the beginning of each chapter to let you know which area you are about to see.

Who is this for? People who love cats and Rome. It's definitely a coffee table book, and it's very Chronicle, IYKYK.

This was such a cute book. I loved seeing the cats all throughout Rome. It is such a contrast to see them with the old structures. It also warms my hear that they are welcomed in the city.

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.