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Istanbul is known around the world as the city of cats, a place where felines roam freely – loved and protected by the people who share the streets, parks, cafés, and ancient monuments with them. Among the many photographers who capture this special relationship, the Instagram page ‘Istanbul Cats’ stands out with its collection of feline models spotted throughout this vibrant Turkish city.
The page documents the everyday adventures of Istanbul’s street cats, showing them lounging in the sun, exploring narrow alleys, posing like royalty on historic steps, and interacting with locals who show them a kindness that has become a cultural symbol of the city.
If you want to be transported to the streets of Istanbul and meet its furry residents, look no further – scroll through this list of some of the best photos shared by the community that we’ve selected for you today.
More info: Instagram | istanbulcats.com | Facebook | youtube.com
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
"Just studying the puffy multicolored clouds and wondering which one to hook my claws into."
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
"Look into my eyes. I am a new, enhanced ATM interface. Say your PIN out loud and clearly."
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Nope. Bosphorus as seen from near Üsküdar (ancient Scutari) on the Asian sıde. That's Kız Kulesi (Maiden's Tower) in the middle ground and way beyond in the distance are Topkapı Palace with Hagia Sophia to the left on the Old City peninsula.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Interior of Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia). The mosaic in the upper left corner is the Deisis (Christ Pantocrator).
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
When this picture was taken a kilo of pears (armut) was 13 TL. It's about 99 TL now.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago (edited)
The mosque on the hill at the right is the Süleymaniye, built at the orders of Sultan Süleyman I and dedicated in 1557. According to one story about mosque's construction, the architect Sinan quickly dug out and laid the foundations then promptly disappeared--according to some for five years--much to the increasingly greater displeasure of the sultan. When Sinan finally reappeared, construction resumed and most of the work was completed within two years. When called on the carpet for this behavior, Sinan replied that because of the size of the building, the foundations needed the five years to settle properly and he knew that if he hung around, the sultan would keep pestering him to finish the work. (He didn't exactly phrase it that way of course.) İstanbul is in a #1 seismic zone but the Süleymaniye has never suffered much damage due to earthquakes except for a partial dome collapse two centuries later. (It's reputedly one of the safest places to be in an earthquake in İstanbul.) The picture is taken from the Galata (northern) side of the Golden Horn BTW.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
"Look into my eyes. I am a new, enhanced ATM interface. Say your PIN out loud and clearly."
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Whiskers 2 weeks ago
I think it depends on how the cat’s leap of faith succeeded.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Story-with-a-moral frequently repeated in the İstanbul Covered (Grand) Bazaar: An antiques connoisseur (“the mark”) making the rounds of the bazaar notices a cat eating from a dish outside a shop. Recognizes the dish as a valuable 16-17th century piece. Offers to buy cat from shopkeeper. Shopkeeper agrees and sells cat. Before leaving, the mark says “Oh, why don’t you throw in that old dish too? The cat looks like it’s used to eating from it.” Shopkeeper: “Oh no, I can’t sell that. That’s my lucky dish. You have no idea how many cats I’ve sold because of that dish.”
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JK 2 weeks ago
Those "eye" beads are amulets.The blue glass ones, are the eye of protection. History far, wide and long. When I moved into my apartment there was one hanging outside at my front door. The former tenant was an international flight attendant. After six years, it is still there. This symbolism and meaning goes back centuries.
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JK 2 weeks ago (edited)
Updating the sculpture garden? Or is that what I think it is? Felines have been long known to be guardians of the d ead. Interesting photo. I'd love to learn the background.
Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
This is definitely a cemetary but I can't begin to guess where. That solid-looking building in the background is Ottoman stone masonry so this is most likely a cemetary associated with a mosque. İstanbul has lots of mosques so this could be anywhere. The stone slab the cat is perched on is a bit puzzling. It might be the topmost part of a fountain that has since disappeared.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Looking at the Sterling (GBP) exchange rate, this picture was taken some time around July 2021.
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Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Not Istanbul. According to CoPilot: "The buildings in the background are the Varna Wave residential towers, located in Varna, Bulgaria. They are known for their striking wavy façade and modern architectural design."
Load More Replies... the smiling dolphin 2 weeks ago
The buildings in the background look like Istmarina to me. On the Asian side, near Kartal. Istmarina is a residential / shopping mall combo. You can check on google maps street view.
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Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 2 weeks ago
Lighting, framing, perspective, color--impressive work and very enjoyable to look at!
Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Describing another place in “The Innocents Abroad” (1869, Chapter XLVIII), Mark Twain (who also visited Constantinople during the voyage) speaks of “a landscape… that is exceedingly festive and picturesque, especially if one is careful to remember to stick in a cat wherever, about the premises, there is room for a cat to sit.”) Some things never change.
Jerusalem Cat Syndrome 2 weeks ago
Lighting, framing, perspective, color--impressive work and very enjoyable to look at!
Janissary35680 2 weeks ago
Describing another place in “The Innocents Abroad” (1869, Chapter XLVIII), Mark Twain (who also visited Constantinople during the voyage) speaks of “a landscape… that is exceedingly festive and picturesque, especially if one is careful to remember to stick in a cat wherever, about the premises, there is room for a cat to sit.”) Some things never change.
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