Photo Feature: Cats of Turkey

All pics by Sheila Kumar. All images subject to copyright.

 

A short note on Istanbulli felines:

Locals call Istanbul Catstanbul at times; many hundreds of felines — 1,25,000 at last count — roam the streets in complete and confident freedom and have done so many centuries, also entering homes and mosques with impunity. The Ottomans of old kept cats to drive away vermin and the felines really pulled their weight. The cats also took care of mice that destroyed books, which is why cats are often depicted in artworks. Cats therefore had and continue to have an important niche in Turkish culture. They will oftentimes find water bowls and even small shelters on the streets.

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