Why Are There So Many CATS In Turkey? – Istanbul CATS 🐱

Gandhi say, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated”.

Turkey is among the countries whose people’s good behavior towards animals has been noticed worldwide. In this country, cats have a special place.

What do you think is the reason for these behaviors and the popularity of cats in this country? Why are there so many cats in Turkey? You will find the answers to these questions in the following article.

Why are there so many cats in Turkey?

In Turkish culture, cats are usually symbols of luck and happiness. Also, cats are known as independent and autonomous animals. (This symbol dates back to the time of the Ottomans, who used cats to ward off mice and related diseases and even used cats to protect books from rodents.)

Today, by examining the DNA of cats, scientists have concluded that where cats began to live was Turkey. Cats first appeared in this region and then were transferred to different parts of the world over several thousand years, and that is why Turkey has become one of the countries where the number of cats is high.

What is the reason for the world fame of Turkish cats?

Turkey’s cats, especially Istanbul, have gained world fame and have been the subject of many international newspapers and magazines. In 2016, a documentary called Kedi was made, in which the cats of Istanbul are the film’s main actors and their living conditions in this city are depicted.

In 2016, Good magazine also published a news article: “This winter, one of the imams of the congregation has turned a part of the mosque into a shelter for homeless cats.”

What are the living conditions of cats in Istanbul?

It is interesting to know that there are about 30,000 cats in Istanbul, and their population is being controlled with the sterilization plan. Istanbul cats live a comfortable life in this city. People feed them, they have a place to sleep, and they can easily enter the shops, cafes, and entertainment places in Istanbul.

You will never feel lonely during your trip because a lovely furry creature will always accompany you. If, for any reason, you are not interested in or afraid of these creatures, don’t worry because they won’t bother you.

So, in response to the question “Why are there so many cats in Istanbul” it should be mentioned that because of the kind behaviour of the people of Istanbul with cats, there are many of these lovely animals in Istanbul.

How do Turkish people treat cats?

In Türkiye, small cats are very popular. These animals are beautiful, playful, and energetic; many Turkish people keep these animals as pets.

Turkish people generally respect and care for cats. In many Turkish cities, houses are built for cats, and people provide them with food and water. 😉

Many people in Turkey are happy to see cats playing and behaving strangely. This spectacle provides peace and happiness to many people.

Therefore, various reasons why Turkish people love cats are rooted in the society and culture of this country. In addition, some Turkish people have formed programs and organizations to protect and save animals, including cats, such as the “Cat Foundation”. This organization was formed to promote the protection of animals, including cats, in Turkey, and many people reach out to help animals in need through this organization.

As a result, Turkish people’s interest in cats and efforts to take care of them shows why are there so many cats in Turkey; also, in this country, the issue of protecting animals, especially cats, is considered an important social issue. It is interesting to know that there is a museum for cats in Istanbul that you can visit.

The statue of a cat that became famous in Turkey!

You may have seen its photo on social networks such as Instagram and Facebook many times. A fat cat is lying on the edge of the sidewalk; Its name is Tombili (in Turkish, it means a fat cat), and the people gave him this name.

Tombili lived in the Kadikoy district and was always in a limp position on the street and people watching, and he was indifferent to the people who wanted to play with him. Little by little, his picture spread on social medias, and he quickly became one of the world’s most popular and famous cats.

This cat, however, died shortly after his fame due to illness. But the people who loved him so much decided to make a memorial for him. A campaign was launched, and by collecting 17,000 signatures, they officially requested the mayor of Istanbul to build a monument for Tombili.

Finally, a statue was made as an image of Tombili and placed in the same place he used to be. The statue was unveiled on World Animal Day on October 4, and hundreds of people from different places came to the Kadikoy district to commemorate him. The event was even broadcast live by the official Turkish TV. 🐱

If you are interested in cats, I suggest you visit the fat cat statue during your trip to Istanbul and take photos next to it because it is one of the best Istanbul Photoshoot locations.

The cat that the former President of the United States visited!

If you have been to Hagia Sophia, you may have seen him. Gli is a cat who has lived in this mosque for 14 years and has many followers on social networks! The special behavior of this cat has made him an interesting subject for tourists. This lovely cat has become so famous that once the former President of the United States, “Barack Obama”, met with Gli during his official and business trip to Turkey.

Gli’s Instagram page is managed by a tour guide named Umut Bahçeci. He says about him: Gli likes to pose; if he wants to communicate with people, he stands under the muezzin’s position in the mosque, and when he is tired or bored, he sits somewhere in the middle under the dome where tourists are not allowed to enter.

If you go to Hagia Sophia in winter, you can usually find him in front of the altar, lighting warm projectors. On hot days, he rests on the mosque floor or in front of the light windows. Gli lives in this mosque with his sister Kizim, but her fame is not as good as Gli’s. 😀

Al in all

In this article on the Traveling Topic, I talked about Turkish cats and the kind behavior of Turkish people with cats. Of course, this behavior is not limited to cats, and during your trip to Turkey, you will see many times that people feed dogs, seagulls, and birds and treat them very kindly. Turkish people are kind to cats, and cats have very calm behavior.