In Istanbul, cats are everywhere, moving through the streets with the quiet confidence of locals – because they are. They perch themselves on the roofs of cars, lounge on sun-warmed stone ledges, relax in a cushioned chair next to you at an outdoor cafe.
Here, the street cats aren’t strays in the Western sense of the word. They’re not mangy vagrants haunting the margins of urban existence. The cats are part of the neighborhood in Istanbul, giving the city character and rhythm.
The Residents
In much of Muslim culture there’s a deep sense of compassion toward animals. In Istanbul that shows up as an everyday shared responsibility to care for the cats who live alongside them. It’s common to see little food bowls tucked in doorways and water left out on hot days. You can find little improvised shelters, like troll houses in gardens, for the cats in winter.
In a city as old as civilization itself, thousands of people acting with sympathy turn acts of kindness into a feline infrastructure.
Coffee (and nap) Time
After choosing an outdoor table to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee, I glance over and discover it’s already claimed by two kittens. They don’t mind sharing. Soon, we’re joined by their mother. Despite the strong coffee, I find myself thinking about a nap afterwards.
Check out this post about a day trip along the length of the Bosphorus from Istanbul to the Black Sea:
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