Furry companions on every Istanbul street

Istanbul — Just a few steps from the arrivals gate at Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport, Turkey, travellers are greeted not only by travel agents and taxi services but also by a number of cats comfortably observing the human comings and goings before them.

The jet lag and fatigue from the connecting flight from Jakarta to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, continuing onward to Istanbul aboard AirAsia X, quickly lifted upon seeing the endearing faces of the cats welcoming new arrivals.

It is common knowledge that Istanbul is a city teeming with street cats, referred to by locals as sokak kedisi.

These four-legged creatures can easily be found in all manner of places: the airport, café entrances, and shopping centres such as markets and malls.

Residents and tourists alike seem happy to stop repeatedly and greet these adorable feline companions at every turn of their journey.

The New York Times estimated in 2019 that some 125,000 cats roam freely throughout the city of Istanbul. Many Turkish citizens regard street animals such as cats as “collective pets” rather than stray animals wandering the streets.

This attitude is further reinforced by Turkey’s strict policies on animal protection.

The cultural reverence for cats in Istanbul has deep roots in both Islamic tradition and the legacy of the Ottoman Empire.