We were ready for the cats of Istanbul, having watched the fantastic documentary from 2016, Kedi, about the cats and the peoples relationship to the many, many, many cats.
Did that stop me from being bowled over with enthusiasm for each and every cat I saw? No. I’m sure Rich got tired of hearing me announce ‘kitty’ every time I spied a cat. But he is a good sport. Even when I assured him that the cats won’t jump up on the chairs at the restaurant – right before a cat did just that to get access to his lap.
It warms my heart to see how so many people care for the cats, and stop to give a scratch behind the ears if possible, and how many little cat houses and bowls of cat food dot the urban landscape.
It wasn’t just cats that caught our attention over our five days in Istanbul. The tulip festival was also a delight to see.
There is much more to see and do in Istanbul than we managed to squeeze in, so I hope we’ll be back again sometime. The ten hour time change was tough – we hadn’t had a shift like that in quite a while and we both felt it pretty acutely. We were lucky to have a friend of a friend to meet up with, and made new friends thanks to a charming kitty at a charming restaurant. Hopefully Rich will time to write more about Istanbul, there were a lot things to appreciate from an urbanist transportation point of view.
Less Car, More Life 
OMG! That looks like my kind of place! More pictures needed of architecture too, Rich, that’s your post. ; )
You would love the kitty scene!
This post about cats in Istanbul is delightful! I loved reading about the author’s interactions with the cats, and the accompanying photos are fantastic. Thank you for sharing your experience with us!
I love this post about the cats of Istanbul! It’s heartwarming to see how the people there have such a special relationship with their feline friends. The photos are absolutely adorable, especially the one of the kitty taking a bath on the micro mobility device. Thank you to the author for sharing this charming story and these wonderful photos!
Thank you. It was so heartwarming to see how the people cared for the cats. And what fun to be in a city so full of cats! I never got tired of seeing them.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the cats of Istanbul! I can feel your enthusiasm for each feline encounter, despite watching the documentary “Kedi” beforehand. It’s endearing how cats seem to gravitate towards Rich, even though he’s allergic. The photos you captured reflect the cats’ independent yet curious nature. It’s heartwarming to witness the connection between people and these beautiful creatures. Your story reminds us of the joy and special moments that cats bring into our lives. Thank you for sharing this delightful glimpse into Istanbul’s cat culture.
Thank you. The depth of feeling towards cats is really lovely in Turkey.