For Every Cat Deserves to Belong
Rainbow Cats is a private, independent initiative in Southern Italy, dedicated to making life better for local stray cats. From daily feeding and caring for sick or injured animals to organising spaying and neutering, the focus is on practical help where it is needed. Every little effort counts towards a safer, kinder life for the cats in our community.
Local care & Protection
- Daily food and water
- Creating safe shelters
- Emergency rescue
Health & Wellbeing
- Veterinary care
- Recovery support
- First aid and injury treatment
Spaying & Neutering
- Population control
- Colony management
- Preventing suffering
Community & Cooperation
- Local partnerships
- Colony registration
- Working together
Education & Awareness
- Raising awareness
- Sharing knowledge
- Responsible ownership
Where we are
Meet the Rainbow Cats
Every cat in our lives has one thing in common: they were once stray cats, or they still are. Some have found their forever home with us, while others continue to live outdoors, where we provide food, care and a little bit of security. We affectionately call our resident cats The Lucky Dozen. The number twelve isn’t set in stone, but over the years, our feline family has somehow always settled around that number. The number of street cats we care for is even less predictable. Some stay, some disappear, and for others, we do our best to find loving homes. And the rainbow? To us, it represents the many different colours, personalities and stories of the cats who cross our paths. Every one of them is unique, and every one deserves a chance at a better life.
The Lucky Dozen
The Hopeful Ones
Help us fill their bowls
For anyone who would like to support our rescued cats and local strays with a little cat food, we’ve put together an Amazon wishlist. It’s simply a starting point, and other brands, pack sizes and price ranges are just as welcome. No matter how big or small, every crumb counts!
Estimated Number of Street Cats in Italy
An estimated 2.5 million stray cats live in Italy, although their exact number remains unknown. Abandonment, uncontrolled breeding and insufficient sterilisation have contributed to this widespread problem. Italy has a system of officially recognised feline colonies, known as colonie feline.
These are groups of free-roaming cats living in a particular area, often cared for by volunteers. According to Legambiente’s 2026 report, Italian health authorities recorded more than 49,000 feline colonies with approximately 437,000 cats.
However, these figures only cover colonies documented by the reporting authorities. Many more cats live in unregistered colonies or outside established groups, often without anyone looking after them. Although Italian law protects free-roaming cats, many still depend on volunteers for food, veterinary care and sterilisation.
Why we care
We simply can’t walk past a cat in need and pretend we haven’t seen it. Every cat deserves food, shelter and medical care, whether it belongs to someone or not. Street cats are a problem created by humans, and we believe that caring for them is a responsibility we share. We know we can’t save them all. There are simply too many. But whenever we encounter a cat that needs help, we can’t just look the other way. If there’s something we can do, we do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rainbow Cats based?
Rainbow Cats is based near Praia a Mare, a coastal town in Calabria, southern Italy. The area lies along the Tyrrhenian Sea, with beautiful beaches, mountains and small villages. The nearest major airports are Lamezia Terme and Naples.
Is Rainbow Cats a registered charity?
No. Rainbow Cats is a personal project, not a registered charity or animal rescue organisation. We care for cats on our own initiative and share their stories through this website.
Are all your cats rescued?
Yes! All our cats originally came from the streets. Most were born outdoors, although some have been with us since birth because we took in their pregnant mothers. This allowed their kittens to grow up in a safe home from their very first day.
How can I support Rainbow Cats?
The easiest way to help is through our Amazon wishlist. We welcome cat food donations of any size, brand or price range. We don’t accept monetary donations. Every bit of food helps us keep the bowls filled.
Do you spay and neuter street cats?
We believe sterilisation is one of the most important ways to reduce the number of cats living on the streets. We’re working towards having the local street cats officially recognised as a feline colony so they can benefit from the Italian sterilisation programme.
Can I adopt one of your cats?
Yes! Some of our cats, featured under “The Hopeful Ones”, are looking for loving homes. We’re always happy to get to know potential adopters and help arrange an adoption. Our cats are never sold. All we want is for them to find a safe, loving home where they’ll be cared for and cherished.