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The Cats Taking Over Istanbul

How Istanbul’s culture is so heavily correlated with cats

By Soha SherwaniPublished 2 years ago 3 min read
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The Cats Taking Over Istanbul
Photo by Daria Shatova on Unsplash

When I visited Istanbul this summer I found everything I was expecting: good food, scenic views, and plenty of history. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was how it seemed that stray cats had monopolized the city; and everyone was okay with that. The cat empire ruled.

There was a cat on every corner. There were cats in museums, in my hotel pool area, and in the travel agency I had visited. What’s interesting is that Istanbul isn’t infested with cats. Istanbul does not have a cat “problem”. The people of Istanbul have made the city optimized for cats and coexist with them.

People left out bowls of food and water outside their businesses for the cats to drink and eat. Many people had befriended the cat on their corner and occasionally let them in for a treat and had reserved an area for them when they came inside.

Needless to say, as a cat person, I was thoroughly enjoying my time in Istanbul.

The history

So, why are cats such an integral part of Turkish, more specifically, Istanbul, culture?

Well, Istanbul and cats share a lot of history.

The Ottoman Empire, the powerful empire founded in 1299, was the empire that settled the city of Istanbul.

Because the Ottoman Empire worshipped cats for their cleanliness, cats were a big part of the Ottoman culture. The Ottomans took care of stray cats the same way they took care of the needy; setting out a plate for them at soup kitchens and protecting them on the streets. Cats were taken care of and a part of the family.

And that tradition and appreciation still carries on today in Istanbul.

Where to find the cats online

The cats of Istanbul are so popular and beloved, that people all over the world keep in touch with the iconic cats of Istanbul today.

The hagiasophiacat Instagram account has a staggering 119,000 followers!

This account features photogenic cats lounging in the Hagia Sophia Mosque, one of Istanbul’s largest mosques and a hot tourist attraction.

Hagiasophiacat via Instagram

Check out the catsofistanbul Instagram page, where stunning photographs of cats all over Istanbul are captured in scenic places; from mosques to beaches. With 2,789 followers, it’s safe to say these cats are quite the stars!

Catsofistanbul via Instagram

Istanbul’s cats: international sensations

Perhaps the most famous cat of Istanbul is Gli, a stunning female cat born in 2004 known for living in the Hagia Sophia Mosque.

Gli initially rose to fame when she was petted by Barack Obama on film during his visit to the Hagia Sophia in 2009.

Since then, Gli captured the hearts of people all over the world and grabbed the attention of many tourists who visited her in the Hagia Sophia Mosque. Gli has been dubbed the “Owner of the Hagia Sophia” and the “Protector of the Hagia Sophia”. Needless to say, she was a very noble cat before her unfortunate death in 2020, a death mourned by many.

Gil, the Hagia Sophia Cat via Middle East Eye

For the next time you go to Istanbul

So, the next time you visit Istanbul, and you surely must; it’s beautiful, be mindful of the historical and cultural significance of the cats that have claimed Istanbul.

The cats are used to a pampered lifestyle and their needs being met. They’re friendly and eager to meet you! So, give them a treat and spend some time with them and they’re sure to give you a few affectionate purrs.

Who knows, you might even recognize a few of the cats featured on Instagram!

It’s not every day you get to meet a celebrity cat, but in Istanbul, it might as well be.

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About the Creator

Soha Sherwani

Hello everyone! You can find me @SherwaniSoha on Twitter and @SohaSherwani on Medium!

Thanks for reading!

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