18 August 2008

Parking lot cats


They must just know that we like them.

Across the street from our building is a small dirt parking lot where there are as many as seven cats. These cats are strays that do not seem to have a permanent home but the same cats are always there. There are four tabbies and three mixed breeds.


This lot is where the neighbors place their trash each night to be picked up, I’m sure one of the reasons these cats congregate here. Frequently I have taken scraps of food down to feed the cats when I take down the trash and now whenever I walk into the parking lot several of them will come running out of their hiding places to greet me. I have to be careful when feeding them as a couple of them can be rather aggressive to get food; I have been scratched more than once.


As with many of the cats in Italy they are very skittish but two of the tabbies do allow me to pet them, one will even walk around me in circles and rub against me. Who knows, maybe one of them will cross the street and follow me home some day.

8 comments:

erin said...

i hope one follows you home one day :) Everyone needs a cat in Italy!

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Reminds me of our holiday in Sicily..the owner said that a few cats congregated on the patio/terrace waiting to be fed..they even used the outside sofas under cover to sleep on, I think they adopted it as their home!!

Anonymous said...

I sure wish people would have their cats and dogs spayed and neutered so that there wouldn't be so many unwanted animals with no homes. It is so sad.

Donna

Bryan said...

I agree people should be responsible with their pets but I must say I think Italian cats do well. They get a full plate of pasta everyday.

We will have to be content with cats nearby...not in our apartment.

Anonymous said...

It sounds as if you get some of the joy of pet ownership, with none of the headaches.

Anonymous said...

Bryan, that is good to hear that even the stray animals eat well in Italy! I should have known that!

Donna

Bryan said...

The only thing we lack would be a warm purring cat on our laps on a cold winter night...now that I really miss.

Anonymous said...

I want the black & white one!!!