When you visit Istanbul, many significant architectural aspects draw your attention, but the cats there are more likely to win your heart than they will your sight.But why are there so many cats in Istanbul, and how did they become such a beloved part of Turkish urban life? It doesn’t matter where you look; you’ll always find a cat. Cats are known to prowl the streets, leap onto seats in crowded pubs, and even sit on people’s laps as they dine at restaurants. A cat lurks around every corner, hoping to be fed or vying for your attention.
Cats are provided with food and water by store owners and street vendors, and tips collected in communal tip jars are used to pay for necessary veterinary care for the cats. Why is there such a high population of cats in Istanbul? But why are they held in such high regard? You can get lot of information on street cats of Istanbul.
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The Passion That Istanbul Has For Cats
To begin, we can trace the protection of cats to an order given by a sultan. Islam and cats had very deep connection. Once upon a time, Istanbul served as a financial and transportation hub for a significant portion of the world. Cats were commonly practiced to disembarked from ships and remain in the city. As they patrolled the neighborhoods, they eliminated vermin such as rats and mice and kept insects out of wooden structures. A sultan commanded that they be protected, and many people believe that to this day, people are still merely obeying his order. Turkish love for cats is unbelievable.
On the other hand, there are other places in Istanbul where one may find affection and care for cats. Several legends about the Prophet Muhammad involve cats, and these stories point to the sanctity of cats. Istanbul is a city that is predominantly Muslim. The first one is that Muhammad tore off the sleeve of his prayer shawl to avoid waking his cat, Muezza, who was sleeping on the sleeve of the prayer shawl.
One of the most famous stories is when Muhammad was praying when a friend’s cat attacked and killed a venomous snake that was coming toward Muhammad, defending Muhammad and preventing the serpent from killing him. In response, Muhammad bestowed his blessing on the cat and endowed felines with the ability to stand up after falling.
Despite the questionable validity of some of these tales, Muslims worldwide hold cats in a revered position. An old proverb goes, “If you’ve murdered a cat, you need to construct a mosque in order for God to forgive you.”
Aside from the fact that cats are revered in Istanbul, there is also a pragmatic explanation for the city’s high cat population. There is no tradition of spaying and neutering. Consequently, there is an ever-increasing population of cats, each of whom has a short life span due to the numerous risks connected with living outside as a cat.
People will feed the cats that live outside; some will even take them in when they are sick or injured, nurse them back to health, and then release them back into the wild when they have recovered. Because cats have been living in Istanbul for thousands of years, they may have become accustomed to the presence of humans and get along well with them.
Kedi Documentary
The documentary Kedi made its world debut at the Istanbul Independent Film Festival in 2016 (KEDI 2016). Ceyda Torun is the director of this film, which recounts the narrative of seven distinct cats living in different parts of the city and the people who care for them. In February of 2017, the documentary had its world premiere in New York (KEDI-2017).
Whether you believe the religious or the practical explanations for why there are so many cats in Istanbul, you should make it a point to pet at least one of the city’s numerous feline residents while you are there. Let me know if you want to know more about Istanbul cats.