Cats Gone Wild

Our first day in Istanbul, Moe and I strolled down the teeming Istiklal Street, the city's jammed main drag. I noticed the cats right away and thought they could be feral. I also noticed the lack of dogs on the street.

Here's what I found on google--an article from Fox News, August 23, 2010. I quote excerpts below.

"When President Obama visited Turkey last year, he paused to stroke a tabby cat at the former Byzantine church of Haghia Sophia while Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan looked on with a smile....

"Many a visitor has noted the abundance of stray cats in the old imperial capital of Istanbul. They amble and lounge around some mosques and have the run of a couple of universities...

"Facebook campaigns gather supplies for them, and it's easy to spot nibbles and plastic containers of water left discreetly on sidewalks for the felines...

"Stray dogs are considered more of a nuisance and sanitation threat than cats, and Islamic tradition — while espousing tolerance for all creatures — labels them unclean...

"Cats benefit from their association with Islam in Turkey, where the population is mostly Muslim though the laws and political system are secular. A popular saying goes: "If you've killed a cat, you need to build a mosque to be forgiven by God."

Hagia Sofia guardian

"'Most of these strays have developed friendly relationships with people. They have personalities and in many neighborhoods, they are almost part of the community," Barlas wrote in an email.

bazaar cat

Shoeshine cat

Upscale store-window display cat

Down-to-earth display cat

skivvies cat

guardian cat

This poor tabby is favoring it's left paw.

The cats look aloof, as if you are beneath their notice, until you bend down to photograph them. Then they approach. Otherwise they ignore you.

One blue eye, one yellow eye

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/08/23/stray-cats-strut-istanbuls-streets-symbol-tradition-churning-metropolis/#ixzz2PEi77tbb