With the death of Ciuffo, the last cat born at the seaside, the famous feline colony of Su Pallosu in San Vero Milis, never recognized by the institutions and privately managed for almost twenty years, is heading for extinction.
An example
The colony is about a century old. It arose spontaneously in the early 1900s, when fishermen brought the first cats to keep mice away from their homes and tuna and coral storage areas. The animals later settled permanently, and the oasis was privately managed by the Amici di Su Pallosu association, led by Andrea Atzori, son of coral fisherman Gianni Atzori, which is based right where his historic workshop once stood. "None of the 17 cats present at Su Pallosu today were born here," explains Atzori. "The remaining ones were abandoned completely illegally. They were later rescued and sterilized. And now they're all elderly. That's why we're nearing the end."
The tourists
The colony, however, continues to attract countless tourists who come to see the famous seaside cats up close. Two years ago, Tripadvisor even awarded it the Traveler's Choice award. This recognition is based on positive visitor reviews, a recognition that comes after four certificates of tourism excellence obtained in previous years, placing the colony at the top of the list of the most visited destinations in the province. "It's impossible now to manage all the visits like years ago, when there were sixty cats in my garden," explains Atzori. "My house would be overrun with people every day. Impossible, especially because I have so many commitments in life. Unfortunately, the municipality has never acknowledged this reality; I've always done everything myself, from sterilizations to health monitoring, without any financial assistance. But there are also those who continue to abandon cats here, committing a criminal offense and consigning them to death."
The case
Years ago, the cats even won an administrative battle. The municipality denied recognition of the colony and then threatened to relocate the felines, but the Amici di Su Pallosu association appealed. The rescue of the famous Su Pallosu colony was made possible in 2014 by a decree from then-President Giorgio Napolitano. The decree officially recognized the area, allowing the association's microchipped cats to remain and preventing their relocation or seizure.
