The First Sighting

Before I embarked on my travels abroad, many of my peers had informed me of the surplus of stray cats in Italy. I would by lying if I said this wasn't part of my decision in deciding where to study abroad for a semester. 

Here I was, stepping off the plane, just a girl wanting to see the world and all the cats it had to offer. 

Imagine my dismay when I was not greeted by some sort of parade of felines, or AT LEAST, what I like to call, a TFI (total feline immersion) when I arrived in Florence. It took almost 2 whole weeks before I saw my first cat here. 

The day was Friday, September 6th. It was your average morning: I woke up, made some toast with skippy all-natural super-chunk peanut butter and embarked on a jog around the city. I was about a mile from my apartment when my cat senses started tingling. 

And there she was, my first Italian cat. More beautiful than I could have ever imagined. 

It shook my entire world. I've walked by this place many times. I finally tore myself away from the graces of this cat and continued jogging...for about 2 seconds. There were THREE MORE CATS. Can you imagine??? Cutting your losses, thinking you'll never see a cat until you get back to the United States, then seeing 4 cats in once place. Unbeknownst to me, I had stumbled upon some sort of cat sanctuary.

The place was littered with empty fancy feast cans and full with promise. 

Unfortunately, the cats were a little put-off by my presence which led to a limited interaction with the cats. But not to worry, I will be back.