This city claims to be the most cat-friendly in the world where over 150,000 felines roam the streets
Welcome to this city, that says it is the cat-friendliest in the world.
Strolling through Istanbul for just a few minutes makes one thing abundantly clear—the city belongs to its cats. You might find a cat sunbathing shamelessly on a car, affectionately rubbing against your legs, or curling up beside you at a café, patiently awaiting crumbs to fall from your table.
One blogger even came back to their hotel to find a cat waiting for them in the shower.
In many neighbourhoods, feeding stations, tiny shelters, locals carrying food in their bags, and even ‘cat crossings’ in the road are part of daily life—everyone seems to take on the role of guardian to the feline residents.
Istanbul: “a veritable cat factory”
Istanbul is often hailed as one of the most cat‑friendly cities in the world. Ernest Hemingway’s whimsical observation—“One cat just leads to another”—seems to resonate deeply with the locals. The aforementioned blogger called Istanbul “a veritable cat factory,” adding that the city was “covered in felines.”
In 2009, The New York Times estimated that that around 125,000 street cats roam the city, not to mention the 130,000 dogs that roamed free — that number may be double by now.
They don’t belong to any individual: these cats belong to everyone, embraced as part of the communal fabric.
The deep bond between Istanbul and its cats has roots that stretch back millennia. Believed to have originated from Egypt and Mesopotamia, cats are seen as guardians. During the Ottoman Empire, a profession emerged—mancacı, or “catsitter”—who literally fed and cared for street cats on behalf of charitable foundations.
The blogger TravelsAfoot put it like this: “in a chaotic world, this simple, unspoken care really stands out," adding that “their presence adds to the city’s unique experience, reflecting its spirit of compassion and coexistence.”
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