Beautiful Images of Cats in Italy (Reader Submitted)

Earlier this week I did a post about a cat sanctuary in Rome. Tanya, who is totally awesome (her tabby, Precious was featured during Caturday last month), saw it and was kind enough to send along some feline-centric pics from her trip to the cat loving country last year.

Tanya writes: "I saw your post on the cat sanctuary in Italy. I can say from experience that Italy is cat crazy. I went there last summer and was overwhelmed by all the cat stuff for sale and of course all the adorable cats! I saw the most cats in Rome, Cinque Terre and Venice. People in the towns seem to be quite fond of the cats and take care of them. In at least two of the restaurants I had dinner at, a cat wandered in and rubbed up against my leg. I collected cat postcards wherever I went and managed to find a wine stopper with a cat on top that looked just like my Precious. See attached for pics of some lovely Italian cats (gatti in Italian).

Italy is the most amazing place I've ever been. Definitely a place worth checking out for so many different reasons, but being surrounded by cats was a pleasant surprise."

Tanya also shares that the Caturday pic of Precious in her suitcase was taken before she left for the trip: "I was packing the night before I went to Italy and I think she wanted to come with. It was hard to leave her behind with that face!"

1) Rome

2) Tea shop in Rome right by the famous Spanish Steps where Audrey Hepburn eats ice cream in Roman Holiday

3) Cat lounging at a villa in Chianti wine country (Tuscany)

4) Cat on the Cinque Terre Trail (there was a jar for donations for feeding the cats in the area on the picnic table)

5) Marina cat in Vernazza one of the Cinque Terre towns. This kitty hung out near where the fishermen brought their boats and bounty back. This same kitty wandered into the restaurant I had dinner at and was sucking up to patrons to get more fish. The waitress said she is a regular called "Narina" (sp) meaning "small black"

6) Another Cinque Terre cat (there's lots of Cinque Terre cat merchandise in the stores, they are quite an attraction (for cat lovers at least!) (Ed: Does this kitty remind anyone else of Bowie Cat?)

7) More Cinque Terre Cats (FYI, Cinque Terre is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is comprised of 5 small villages on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. It is protected from development, filled with brightly colored houses, and no cars are allowed, which makes it a safer place for kitties to wander around)

8-12) Still in Cinque Terre

13-15) A gorgeous and fluffy cat in Venice. Another place where the lack of cars (and possibly the popularity of seafood) makes it a nice place for kitties to stroll safely. Right after I took these pictures an older lady came by and walked down the street having a conversation in Italian with the cat who followed along by her side. It was a sweet moment.

Sweet moment, indeed! Special thanks to Tanya for sharing her amazing photos with us!