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Why Are There So Many Cats Everywhere in Istanbul?

  • My Istanbul Guide
  • May 24
  • 3 min read

If you’ve spent even half a day wandering the streets of Istanbul, you’ve probably noticed something… or someone… watching you. Maybe they’re perched on a mosque wall, curled up in a shoebox outside a shop, or confidently strutting through a café like they pay the rent. That’s right — the city is absolutely teeming with cats.


Not stray cats. Not feral cats. But Istanbul cats — a breed unto themselves. Independent, well-fed, and surprisingly photogenic. But how did this feline phenomenon come to be?



It is a common practice to feed the cats in Istanbul
It is a common practice to feed the cats in Istanbul



A Historical Tale (With Tails)


To understand why Istanbul is essentially a giant open-air cat sanctuary, we need to go back — way back. In its earlier days as Byzantium, then Constantinople, and finally Istanbul, the city has always been a bustling, global port. And with ships came cargo. With cargo came rats. And with rats came… cats.


These furry little pest controllers quickly became indispensable. Markets, homes, and granaries relied on them to keep things rodent-free. So, even before they were Instagram icons, cats were considered practical members of society.


Islam’s Love for Cats


There’s also a deeper, more spiritual reason cats are treated like minor celebrities in Istanbul. In Islam, cats are seen as ritually clean and are widely respected. There’s a famous story in which the Prophet Muhammad cuts off a part of his robe rather than disturb a sleeping cat. This reverence trickled down through the centuries and shaped the way people in predominantly Muslim cultures — including Turkey — interact with animals.

The result? In Istanbul, cats aren’t owned — they’re honored.





Community Cats, Not Strays


This is one of the most beautiful things about cat culture here: no one owns them, and yet, everyone cares for them. You’ll see bowls of food and water on street corners, handmade cat houses tucked into quiet courtyards, and locals pausing in their daily routines just to offer a gentle scratch behind the ears.


They’re not strays — they’re community cats, and they belong to the city just as much as the Bosphorus, the call to prayer, or the simit sellers.


As a tour guide, I often point them out not as side notes, but as part of the fabric of the city. In some districts, you’ll even find legendary cats with names and fanbases. I’m not joking — some of them are more famous than local politicians.



Istanbul's cats are cultured
Istanbul's cats are cultured


Tombili and the Rise of the Feline Celebrity


Speaking of fame, let’s talk about Tombili — the chonky cat from Kadıköy who became a global internet sensation after being photographed reclining like a sultan on a sidewalk.


After he passed away (may he rest in purring peace), the neighborhood was so heartbroken that they erected a statue in his favorite pose.


Now tell me — what other city builds monuments to street cats?



The statue of Tombili the Cat
The statue of Tombili the Cat


A City That Lets Cats Be Cats


What’s truly unique about Istanbul is the mutual understanding between humans and cats. The cats don’t beg. They don’t whine. They live their best lives — snoozing on ancient ruins, interrupting business meetings, or gate-crashing weddings — and the people? We just work around them.


I've seen a cat sleep undisturbed in the seat of a tram while commuters squeezed in around it like it was royalty. I’ve watched a waiter balance a tray with one hand and stroke a cat with the other. No fuss. Just a quiet coexistence that’s somehow very Istanbul.


In the End, They're Part of the Soul


So, why are there so many cats in Istanbul?

Because this city chose them — and they chose it back. They’ve wandered through its palaces and back alleys for centuries, leaving paw prints on its history and charm on its cobblestones. They are the silent observers of our chaos, the unbothered yogis in a city that never quite slows down.


Next time you're in Istanbul, don’t just look up at the minarets and domes. Look down — or better yet, around — and you’ll see the city’s most iconic residents going about their mysterious little lives.


And who knows? One might even choose to sit on your lap. If that happens, cancel your plans. You’ve been chosen. And around here, you don’t move a cat.





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