There is plenty to say about Rome, our next destination after Ischia, as part of our Italy trip in October. One thing we hadn’t expected, however, was all the cats…
You can buy calendars of cats on famous monuments – and certainly if you go past any of the Roman sites at night, it doesn’t take long to spot them moving about among fallen masonry. In fact, some of the sites have put up notices informing passersby of attempts to neuter the cat population to try to keep it under control.
Observing cats at work, posing for cameras in various settings, led us to consider a day in the life of a professional cat in Rome:
Morning: the park on the top of the Aventine hill (close to where we stayed). Attract young German boys who want to sit and stroke you. Best achieved as a pack of three where each cat is a different colour, for pleasing photographic contrast.
*Cats who want to work overtime can also appear at the park on Saturday mornings, where there is a good chance of appearing in a few wedding photos as the bride and groom pose for photos after a ceremony in the adjacent church. Should the bride wish to sit on a seat with the cats, claws must be sheathed.
Late morning, early afternoon: a spot of calendar modelling. it is best to get into your favoured historic location in time to have a nap. This allows the photographers more of a chance to capture your best side, and to rest from the morning’s labours.
Mid afternoon: Appear outside the Colosseum. The well trained cat can keep the body motionless while turning its head to face each of the three photographers in sequence. Ideal for attracting attention of tourists who don’t want to pay the charge for being photographed with a gladiator.
Evening: a little evening stroll around some other monuments, or a quick look for food in any food bins outside restaurants. Nervous cats beware: this time coincides with the evening stroll, which can include humans with small yappy dogs.
Further options for suitable cat remuneration should be put to the editor.