Cobblestone Cats - Lima: The Cats of Miraflores by Alan Panattoni NEUF boutiques

Lima is the capital of Peru and it is big and busy with a population of almost 10 million people. It offers tasty Peruvian cuisine, long beach fronts, and beautiful green parks. One of these parks is Parque Kennedy located in the heart of Miraflores, one of Limas main districts. Parque Kennedy occupies an area of approximately 240,000 square feet and was named in honor of President Kennedy for the aid he provided Peru during his presidency. In the park you can find everything from artisans, street food vendors, locals and tourist, beautifully manicured flowerbeds and of course cats.

As the story goes, the first two cats were introduced 25 years ago by a priest from a Catholic Church located alongside the park grounds. Now, the park is populated by dozens of cats, some domestic and friendly and others feral and street tuff. The cats of Miraflores hangout like a local taking a stroll, you will see cats at foot asking for a bit of someones lunch, taking a boutiques nap on a tourist lap, perched in a tree, or peeking up and out of a flowerbed. A group of dedicated volunteers, Gatos Kennedy Oficial, care for the cats and will trap, neuter and release to help control the cat population. They also find homes for the cats through their adoption program.