Stray cats in Istanbul aren't just pets—they're the city's soul. Discover the history and legends behind these community-owned feline ambassadors.
In Istanbul, a cat belongs to everyone and no one at the same time; they are unofficial citizens who hold the key to the city’s soul.
The host welcomes listeners to the Real English channel. A lighthearted podcast about the cat phenomenon in Istanbul and about the famous cats of Istanbul and the story behind them.
The large cat population is rooted in the city's history as a maritime hub and its former architectural style. During the Ottoman era, most houses were built of wood, which attracted mice and rats; cats served as a "private security firm" to protect food supplies and paper documents in libraries. Additionally, Istanbul's status as a major port meant that "sailor cats" frequently disembarked from international ships to hunt rodents and stayed to mix with the local feline population.
A mancacı was a professional "cat sitter" or food seller in the Ottoman era. Residents who wanted to care for neighborhood strays could purchase portions of food from these professionals to distribute to the animals. This tradition highlights that caring for street cats has been a respected, community-wide collaboration for centuries rather than just a modern hobby.
In Islamic tradition, cats are considered ritually clean (halal) and are admired for their cleanliness. They are allowed to enter homes and mosques, and lore suggests that water a cat has drunk from remains pure for ritual washing. A famous story about the Prophet Muhammad involves him cutting the sleeve off his robe rather than disturbing his sleeping cat, Muezza, which has fostered a long-standing culture of mercy and protection toward felines.
Turkey follows a "trap-neuter-return" (TNR) strategy to humanely manage the population, with the government sterilizing tens of thousands of cats annually. Under the Animal Welfare Act of 2004 and subsequent updates, it is illegal to kill stray animals, and mistreatment can lead to jail time. Municipalities provide free veterinary services, and the city has installed numerous "cat houses" to provide shelter during the winter.
Gli and Tombili are two of Istanbul's most famous feline "citizens" who became symbols of the city's bond with cats. Gli was a resident of the Hagia Sophia for sixteen years, gaining international fame and even meeting world leaders like Barack Obama. Tombili became a global internet meme for her relaxed reclining pose on a sidewalk in Kadıköy; after her death, the local community honored her with a bronze statue in that exact spot to serve as a permanent neighborhood landmark.
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