I love cats so I was excited to see so many beautiful photographs, it has definitely added to my future plans to visit Rome.

Short recipe for a great book: Cats? Check. Italy? Check.

Cats of Rome is a photo-heavy coffee table book that chronicles the many feral cat colonies in Rome, Italy and the gattari (cat ladies) who take care of them. Descriptions of where you can find said cats, along with a map and multiple pictures are included. The author also starts the book with a background story of how she discovered the many cats and her perseverance in photographing them. What a cool job.

I'm pretty bummed I didn't know about all of this when I was in Rome, but now I have another excuse to head back.

Recommended for cat and travel lovers.

Thank you Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

I have to confess that I was more interested in this book for the scenes of Rome than I was for the cats, but it's a well account of both brief backgrounds of the sites where the cats were photographed and the photos of the cats themselves. I enjoyed the historical background on the feral cats in Rome--I confess I'd heard about the cat colonies but had never seen a cat in Rome. The author's difficulty in tracking down the elusive cats at some of these sites explains why.

This is a beautiful book that lovers of cats and Rome will enjoy. #CatsofRome #NetGalley

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.
Thank you Chronicle Books for a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Like the title says, this is a book of photos of street cats in Rome. Simple, a good coffee table book, and filled with cats living in historical sites in Rome.

The cats are cute, of course, and you learn a bit about the street cats are culture in Rome and a bit about historic sites as well. The introduction gives off a bit of a random person’s vacation blog which wasn’t as interesting, but if you want to see pictures of cats, this is your book.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Cats of Rome is a cute book. I had no idea there were so many stray cat colonies in Rome so it was informative. The photography is okay and what has let me down a bit; there are several great photos but most of them leave something to be desired, usually in the way of composition. I looked up this photographer and her other photos are stunning so this could be an issue of just the ARC file having low-quality images (which it definitely does). It seems like it will be a fairly small physical book at roughly 7x8 inches and 144 pages. I see enough potential that I'm very tempted to get the kindle version myself. I think this would be a great small gift for a cat lover who also loves travel, especially if they have an affinity for Italy.

It’s Italy. It’s cats. I love everything about this. It was also really interesting learning about the cat colonies in Rome and the gattaras (backup career option?), something i never even knew was a thing! I loved it!

This book came exactly when I needed it!! I’ve been really interested in cats recently as an autistic person so this was so fun!! I would love to have this one to flip through, the photographs are so cute, and the extra info we get is so nice.

Cats of Rome is a visually arresting ode to the feline wanderers of the Eternal City. From lounging in ruins to surveying ancient columns like living room tigers, these cats exude a quiet majesty that feels both timeless and wild. The gothic undertones of the backdrops—crumbling stone, ivy-cloaked walls, and shadowed alleys—give the book a dreamy, slightly haunted charm. It’s a perfect coffee table addition for any cat lover, especially those who appreciate a bit of mood with their meow.

Some images felt slightly blurry, which was a shame, as I’d hang several of these shots on my walls if I could get my hands on high-resolution versions. Still, the way the photographer captured the untamed glances of these cats, set against Rome’s ancient decay, more than made up for the technical imperfections.

A special thanks to NetGalley for offering the reading option via Thorium—hands down a much smoother PDF experience than Adobe Acrobat.

Such a fun little adventure into a topic I hadn’t even heard about! Italian feral cat colonies? Now I need to go and meet them! The pictures were absolutely gorgeous as well!

As a cat owner I obviously HAD to get my hands on this book! I’m also Italian so that took part as well but really it was the cats! You get the see around Rome in the pictures of all the wonderful cats! You also find out about the women caretakers of these cats. This is a cat owners must!

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for sharing this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

Cats of Rome is a love letter to history and all feline friends. The photographs of the cats are beautiful with the ancient architecture and cityscapes, but my favorite moments of this book were the notes written by Scott about each location and their experience photographing these cat colonies. I loved hearing about how they live and coexist with both the Roman locals and tourists. This book is great for anyone who loves cats, travel, and history. It was really enjoyable and I would rate it 4 stars out of 5! My only complaint is that I wish the author elaborated more on each section! I loved hearing Scott's perspectives on these cats just as much as the photographs.

Right from the start, this book shows you some beautiful pictures and a historical background of the Cats of Rome. I've learned some cool things about these cute little buddies from each chapter and its associated location, and the pictures are excellent. I was thoroughly intrigued by each new sight described, demonstrating Traer Scott's strong narrative skill. Amazing read.

This was an advanced reader copy granted via NetGalley, and the final copy may differ from that of my review if the author or publisher deems it necessary. Thank you to Princeton Architectural Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My heart is singing! What a beautiful book, I love it so much! Its my second one from Traer Scott and - just like ‘Rescue Cats’ - this one too is beyond amazing. The author proves again that she is an advocate for animal welfare and a compassionate photographer. The book is a must for everyone who takes care of a feral colony, engages in TNR (Trap Neuter Release) and loves traveling, like me. Apart from the stories and photos of the Cats of Rome, there is enough historical information to pick your interest. The description of the individual colony locations are remarkable, and the photos are superb. These are all feral cats, some might be a little rough looking, but all are beautiful in the eye of every cat lover. The photos are natural in the cats’ habitats, not staged which I love. The introduction is written so wonderfully, it made my heart melt. Each chapter is dedicated to one of the many Roman feral cat colonies with photos from that area. Some show the gracious volunteers - called gattaras - who feed the cats day in and day out. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude knowing that these cats are protected by law and well cared for. I’ve been to Rome many years ago but this book makes me long for another trip just for the cats’ sake and especially to meet Augusto, one of the only two remaining cats in the Colosseo. I adore this author/photographer and cannot wait for publication day (4/22/2025) to run and pick up my own physical copy of the book. This is definitely a book I want to have on my coffee table.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, Chronicle Books/Princeton Architectural Press and especially Miss Traer Scott for gifting me an advance copy. I am truly honored and immensely enjoyed the book. The above is it my honest review and own opinion.

Some beautiful and moving picture with nice factoids along side it, A fun and informative coffee table book suitable for all ages!!

When someone I know visited Rome, they commented on the cats. Now I see why!

There are many cats, a number of whom live outdoors, in the Eternal City. In this title, readers get to meet some of them. It is delightful to look at the photos and to learn more about the neighborhoods in which they live, the history of Rome, and their lives in the city.

Recommended to those who love cats, Rome, and travel whether real or virtual.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Cats of Rome
Disclaimer - This is Not a Romance Genre Book
By Traer Scott
Chronicle Books - April 2025
Non-Fiction

Visitors to Rome will see cats who make this ancient city their home. Many of these visitors probably also alternate taking photos of ancient relics and cats. Traer Scott begins this book with an explanation of the cats of Rome, the laws that protect them, and the "gattaras" who care for them.

Then each chapter is dedicated to a location within Rome. There is a bit of the history and then the pages are filled with amazing photos of Roman architecture, artifacts and cats.

Cats of Rome is a beautiful picture book guaranteed to please cat lovers. Having been to Rome years ago, I still remember learning about the cats and how they were protected and cared for. I was one of those people who snapped photos of cats in Rome. To be honest, I do it on any vacation, or if I see them in a store, or... Cats of Rome unites history and cats. It is always a pleasure to search a photo to find a cat. Seeing parts of Rome and learning history while doing so is an added pleasure.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

If you love cats and you love travel, then you will love this book. It is a nice visual stroll through the various streets of Rome where you will encounter not only beautiful scenery and landmarks, but many glimpses of the feral cats that roam the streets. There are eight specific sites that are covered with a short blurb regarding the historical significance and then many cameos of cats in those areas. I did not realize there were so many colonies of feral cats and appreciated the insights on the people who help care for them. I love that cats are cats, no matter where they may be found. Whether they are walking proud, indifferent, or being a little silly, it is fun to see them in a setting where I would not expect them to be found.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Rome is said to be home to more than 300,000 cats. It's estimated about one third of these are feral, and they are cared for by devoted women who dedicate themselves to their individual clowders. The cats are protected by law, and often found amongst the stunning architecture tourists flock to Rome to see.

I didn't know anything about the cats of Rome before I read Scott's book, but I was enchanted with the images she captured, and the stories she told. I found myself chatting with my mother about it one evening, and she humored me as I rattled off all the fascinating new things I'd learned. Scott's book is a charming compilation of beautiful photography, personal stories, and historical information about the cats of Rome. This book is definitely worth picking up, and I dare say, one of the most charming coffee table books I've read lately.

I expected this to be a book full of cats, but it was so much more than that! I appreciated the introduction which narrated the entire trip and shared insight into each of the colonies. I love how each location is separated and you get to see the unique makeup of each colony and how the cats interact with nature and architecture. Of course, the cats were adorable too! I could spend all day flipping through these pages and perusing the most adorable cats I’ve ever seen. I felt like their personalities were perfectly captured by the photographer in every single photo.