In the U.S., kitten season is often viewed as a crisis—a seasonal surge of births that overwhelms shelters, rescuers, and communities. But not all societies view or manage outdoor cats the same way.
In fact, around the world, kittens and their mothers are sometimes treated with reverence, community care, and even legal protection.

Cats first arrived in Rome through trade routes from Egypt and the Near East. The ancient Egyptians, who famously revered cats as sacred protectors, likely introduced them to Mediterranean commerce, where they found a new role in Roman society. By the height of the Roman Empire (27 BCE – 476 CE), cats were indispensable, prized not only for their ability to control rodent populations but also for their companionship and mysterious allure.