Village with more cats than people welcomes first baby in 30 years

The tiny Italian village, famous for its large cat population, has celebrated the birth of its first baby in almost 30 years.

Lara Bussi Trabucco was recently born in Pagliara dei Marsi, a tiny village in Italy’s Abruzzo region with just about 20 people living there. While the exact number isn’t known, the village is home to many more cats than people!

According to The Guardian, Lara is the first baby born in the village in over two decades. This is because most young people have left to find jobs elsewhere, leaving only older residents behind. The village’s remote location has also contributed to this trend.

I’ve been reading about Pagliara dei Marsi, and it’s a really interesting place. It’s tucked away in the Apennine mountains, and used to be a bustling little farming community. Sadly, over time, people started moving away as the school and other important services closed down. It’s a shame to hear it’s become so empty, but it sounds like it has a lot of history.

With fewer people living in the village and more homes being abandoned, stray cats began to outnumber residents, earning the place a unique and somewhat quirky reputation.

Why it took nearly 30 years

Because fewer babies were being born in Italy overall, and because Pagliara dei Marsi is a very isolated place, the village lost population at an accelerated rate.

The town of Pagliara dei Marsi had no young families remaining, meaning there hadn’t been a baby born there in decades.

Luckily, the town’s cats have quickly filled the empty spaces and are now loved by the remaining residents. One cat, Lara, has even become a local celebrity!

According to The Guardian, Lara’s mother, Cinzia, noted that people are visiting their small town, Pagliara dei Marsi, simply because they’ve heard about her baby. Lara, at only nine months old, has become quite well-known.

2025-12-29 18:19

Why it took nearly 30 years

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