All You Need to Know about İstanbul's Friendly Cats
After walking around for ten minutes in any neighbourhood of Istanbul, any visitor will reach the same conclusion: Istanbul belongs to the cats.
Here are some potential scenes you might encounter: One cat might shamelessly bask in the radiance of the sun on the hood of a car. Appearing out of nowhere, another might start rubbing on your legs as if you were a long-lost friend. A cat might curl up on a chair next to you as you dine at a sidewalk restaurant, patiently waiting for the leftovers. You might also see a gang of cool, nonchalant cats waiting for the scraps right outside the butcher shops and at fisherman's stands. A dotty-looking, middle-aged lady might walk around carrying a bag full of cat food, attracting dozens of cats rushing at her from all directions.
One sleepy cat might have become a part of the furniture at a lively café, while another might gaze at you from the display window of a jewellery store surrounded by gold. But most commonly, you will find them lounging in the middle of the pavement without a care in the world.
Cats of all colours, sizes, and ages are pretty much everywhere here in the city. They are the unimpressed, uninterested onlookers of the hustle and bustle of city life, and they have a devoted public who makes sure that they are fed, sheltered, and cared for at all times.