CATS OF LISBON

Lisbon’s Stray Cats In Their Element

Hello, fellow street photography enthusiasts! I’m excited to share my latest project with you in this month’s newsletter —a photo book titled Cats of Lisbon. For the past four years, I’ve been helping take care of various stray cat colonies across Lisbon. During this time, I’ve captured the lives of these resilient animals, resulting in over 5,000 photographs. This project became more than just a series of photos—it turned into a story about survival, love, and the unseen lives of Lisbon's street cats.

The book will be available November 1st on Amazon. I’d love to share a pre-order link for the book here, but unfortunately, Amazon KDP doesn’t offer this feature. However, I’ll be sending out a special newsletter with the purchase link on Friday—stay tuned!

Of course, with over five thousand photos taken for Cats of Lisbon, not every shot could make it into the final book. That means many incredible images didn't make the cut, but I’ll be sharing some of those exclusive photos with you in this newsletter. These particular shots are NOT featured in the photo book!

Creating Cats Of Lisbon

I dedicated my free time to creating this book and did it all on my own—from writing and photographing to designing the layout. The main goal behind Cats of Lisbon is to raise awareness about the struggles stray cats face and to raise funds to support them with food, veterinary care, and most importantly, love. I can’t wait to share this journey with you and bring more light to the lives of these beautiful cats.

How I Met The Cats

In 2019, while leading my photo walk experiences for Airbnb, I started noticing the stray cat colonies around Lisbon. At first, the cats were shy and kept their distance, but I tried to connect with them, hoping to capture some photos. After the first COVID lockdown, the streets in Lisbon were totally empty—no tourists, no locals, and nothing to photograph but the cats. So, I started taking pictures of them, slowly earning their trust by offering treats. Over time, they began to trust me, and I eventually started feeding them. This connection blossomed into lasting friendships, and from that, the Cats of Lisbon photo book was born. It’s a project close to my heart, reflecting a journey that began with curiosity and grew into a commitment to care for these cats.

Why I Made The Photo Book

As I said previously, the primary goal of this book is to raise money for the cats featured in it so I can continue feeding them and providing much-needed veterinary care. Another key reason for this project is to raise awareness about the importance of TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), which helps manage stray cat populations by fixing, vaccinating, and ear-tipping cats before returning them to their colonies. One colony in particular, located in Lisbon’s Mouraria neighborhood, is in desperate need of a TNR intervention. I contacted Casa dos Animais, Lisbon’s animal welfare organization, and learned they attempted a TNR in this area in 2022. Unfortunately, it wasn’t successful due to the difficult access and locals not following the required 24-hour feeding pause. They are unable to justify a second attempt, so I plan to use part of the profits from this book to fund a new TNR action and save these cats.

These Cats Are My Best Friends

Cats of Lisbon was born from years of street photography documenting the city’s stray cat colonies. These cats, however, have given me far more than just beautiful images to capture—they’ve been a source of comfort and mental clarity. Whenever people see me feeding or playing with them, they often comment, “It’s so nice that you help them,” but the truth is, these cats have helped me just as much. Their companionship has brought me a sense of fulfillment and purpose during tough times. I highly recommend anyone looking for connection or meaning to consider giving some time to care for animals in need. The rewards are mutual.