Mews and Nips: The Wonderful Relationship Between Istanbul and its Cats

Cats have been a part of Istanbul’s history for thousands of years. They are given almost complete free reign in this city of 15 million humans. They go wherever they want, flopping down in the middle of sidewalks and plazas where people have learned to simply step around them. They’re allowed inside buildings, even cafés and restaurants, where they often occupy chairs. In stores, the unwritten rule is that you never disturb a cat, even if it’s sitting on the merchandise. For a wonderful artic...