If you have ever visited Istanbul, you should have noticed its cats. You would think of cats in the City alongside many other landmarks, such as Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque.
The City is flooded with (stray) cats. You will encounter them every 10 meters you walk.
There are a lot of theories about where all the cats came from. Cats have been around in Istanbul since antiquity. Constantinople had a cat population to kill viruses and mice. It makes total sense to believe that cats came through trade with the East or were intentionally imported as mousers.
During Ottoman times, the social status of cats improved to such an extent that a new profession was created. In that job, people would oversee cat colonies all over Istanbul and make sure they were well-fed.
In 2026, locals self-fund safe spaces for cats during their spare time, and you might notice their calls for donations to maintain their cat colonies. Turkish law even enforces a maximum prison sentence of four years for anyone who kills a cat (!).
On social media, cats are everywhere, appearing in every aspect of life in the City. Here, a cat checks whether you have a valid train ticket before boarding.
Picture: Reddit
This cat wanted to join me on the ferry ride, but I had to leave her at the ferry stop, unfortunately.
Even the Cat Museum has opened, and most surprisingly, entry is free of charge! You may support the museum by purchasing its merchandise, though.
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