Istanbul – the city of cats

Istanbul – the city of cats

As I sit avoiding the heat outside in my very-slightly-cooler hotel room, I already know I love Istanbul. We’ve only been here a day, and while it feels near impossible to go out in the city any time between 10.00 and 2.00 (the heat is SO intense) the charm I have experienced is so wonderful. Most of the city seems to come alive as soon as the sun sets to enjoy the balmy evenings of Istanbul, and it comes alive with friendly, chaotic chatter.

And when people say Istanbul is the city of cats, they MEAN it’s the city of cats. This is no exaggeration. When we arrived at our station, there was a cat sleeping on one of the ticket scanners. When we walked through the street, there were cats curled up on little beds people had left out for them. Cats were sleeping on the roof of pretty much every other car we passed. About every hundred metres, there’s a tub filled with water for the cats to drink, and hidden in every bush and hedge are little shelters made for the cats to sleep in if the weather is bad. This really is the city of cats. They are plentiful. They are well-fed. They are friendly. These semi-stray cats are respected and adored by all of the citizens of Istanbul, and most of the cats will happily receive attention from anyone who offers it. It’s my idea of heaven. Yesterday as we explored the city, we came across the most gorgeous ginger tomcat who rolled onto his side to let me rub his belly, not even slightly scared that I might hurt him or chase him away. It seems like the citizens will simply work their lives around the cats so as to not disturb them, and it’s such a heartwarming sight to behold. Istanbul, you are a gem.

– Rosa