The City That Loves Cats: Why Is Istanbul A Feline Paradise?

Anyone who has been to the spectacular Turkish city of Istanbul will have noticed the sheer number of kitties on the streets in the great city. These kitty cats and pooches are going to be an unforgettable part of anyone's perfect weekend in Istanbul.

Turks are famous for their love of animals that extends to a vibrant love of their street pets too. Normally in the West one thinks of pets and of strays. Pets have a home and are well taken care of while strays suffer out in the cold on the street. Strays are often thought of as undernourished and diseased. But this doesn't hold true for Istanbul.

There are many "stray" cats on the streets - indeed it is hard to find a view of a street without seeing several of them at once. But the "strays" are all well-fed and healthy. While the residents may be unable to accommodate another cat in their homes, they routinely feed them and take them to the vets.

Walking along the streets of Istanbul, one will see cat food all along the streets. One will see cat boxes in parks and everywhere along the streets.

It is a common sight to see Istanbullers walking around with their kitty backpacks taking the cats to a vet or to a friend's home. For those looking for a feline paradise, Istanbul could be it.

No one knows just how large the feral cat population in Istanbul is but estimates range from a hundred thousand to over a million strays. Those who have lived there for a while think it is likely to be on the higher end of the estimate.