MEET THE CATS OF İSTANBUL ON INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY

Tomorrow marks International Cat Day, and there is no place more suited to celebrate our furry feline friends than İstanbul. The famous street cats have captured hearts around the world, strolling through active soccer pitches, ballet performances and metro stations as a part of daily life in the bicontinental city. The community cats are cared for by residents in the neighborhoods as well as by municipal feeding stations, public watering bowls and innovative smart kiosks.

It is not difficult to spot İstanbul’s most famous residents, as they appear almost everywhere: from the magnificent Hagia Sophia, where they have long been welcomed to rest under the ancient mosaics, to the bustling Sultanahmet Square, a UNESCO Historic Centre of İstanbul. In Galata, Cat Museum İstanbul celebrates the city’s centuries-old relationship with its feline residents through cat-themed art and exhibitions, while also supporting the welfare of street animals.

While İstanbul might be the world’s best-known locale for its street cats, it is far from the only city in Türkiye with four-legged locals: cats regularly lounge at historical sites like the Ancient Theatre of Aspendos in Antalya and Ephesus in Izmir.

Discover a different side of Türkiye this International Cat Day, where some of the most memorable travel moments aren’t found in guidebooks, but in the company of a friendly cat. For those who want keep up with more feline adventures, follow #CatsOfIstanbul and #İstanbulCats.

For more information about traveling to Türkiye, please visit: https://goturkiye.com/.