Meet some of Istanbul’s friendliest—and furriest—citizens as Ozgecan Simsek, Trip Experience Leader for The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul, introduces you to the city’s stray cat population, and learn about the love and care that the city’s human residents dote upon them. Read on to learn more about the street cat phenomenon in Turkey and neighboring Greece.
If you visit Greece or Turkey, you’ll notice several things: crystalline sapphire-blue waters, golden sands, postcard-perfect vistas, breathtaking landscapes, and what seems like an endless supply of stray cats. In these Mediterranean countries, legions of cats roam the streets of major cities as if they own them. Whether lazily basking in the sun at archaeological sites, leisurely occupying benches, extending greetings at storefronts, or lingering around restaurants in search of handouts, these feline companions provide ample opportunities for cat-loving travelers to shower them with affection.
In Greece, there are two big reasons for the overwhelming numbers of stray cats. Firstly, the warm climate fosters year-round breeding, resulting in a perpetual influx of kittens. Moreover, in major cities like Athens, the layout—replete with narrow streets, alleyways, and ruins—offers abundant hiding spots and shelter in the urban landscape. With female cats capable of giving birth two or three times a year, producing litters of four to eight kittens each time, the situation can quickly spiral out of control—especially when the Greek government falls short in implementing effective spaying and neutering practices.
Unfortunately, the role of local Greek authorities in the support of stray cats remains minimal in many areas of the country—hence the second big reason why overpopulation has grown into a crisis over there. The only forces combatting the overpopulation in Greece are cat shelters, most of which are run and maintained by volunteer groups that largely consist of expats—immigrants from the UK, Germany, Scandinavia, The Netherlands, elsewhere in Europe, and even Canada. Some of these groups have adopted colonies of feral cats and follow trap-neuter-return programs—treating diseased animals, giving inoculations, and neutering to control breeding—often with the help of volunteer veterinarians and technicians from sponsoring countries.
On the contrary, the abundance of fuzzy felines isn’t viewed as so much of a problem in Turkish cities like Istanbul (as you’ll see in the video above). The New York Times estimated more than 125,000 cats roam Turkey’s largest city, but they’re welcomed with open arms and even viewed as a sign of good luck. Many aren’t adopted formally by residents but are rather taken care of by a giant network of caring cat people. It’s an unwritten rule that the cats belong to everyone and no one at the same time, with locals chipping in to feed their neighborhood strays. Food, water, and sometimes little shelters during the colder months are provided for the cats.
Istanbul’s affinity for cats can be traced back to their profound historical and religious importance in the city. During the days of the Ottoman Empire—when present-day Istanbul was Constantinople—ships coming in and out of the port kept cats on board for managing mice and other pests. When the ships docked, the cats would disembark and intermingle with one another, multiplying the population over generations. In the city, the cats were also of great service by catching and killing vermin to help prevent the spread of diseases—in fact, thanks to the abundance of cats, Istanbul managed to avoid the worst of the bubonic plague.
The love of cats also has to do with the Muslim faith in which cats are considered ritually clean animals. Many stories from the Hadith describe the Prophet Mohammed’s love for felines. In one story he cut off the sleeves of his robe to avoid disturbing his cat who was curled up on them. There is also a saying that goes, “if you kill a cat, you need to build a mosque to be forgiven by God.”
8 Interesting Facts About Mediterranean Cats:
- Stray cats got the Greek government in trouble with the EU: The Greek government turns such a blind eye to their cat crisis that, after Greece’s inclusion in the European Union, additional pressure was placed on the Greek government to bring its animal policies in line with those of the EU and to enforce existing laws. Then, in 2007, the European Commission reported Greek authorities to the European Court of Justice for continuing lack of action for animal welfare.
- Contrary to the Greek government, the Turkish government really takes care of their fuzzy feline friends: When curfews were imposed during the Covid-19 lockdown, the Istanbul municipality sent out workers in protective suits to feed the cats (who truly had the run of the city at this time). And although stray cats in Turkey also face their fair share of health crises, recent online campaigns have helped improve the care of the cats and promote disease prevention there. There is also a “stray hostel” run by veterinarians where sick and injured animals can receive care.
- For some Greeks, cats are seen as pests: While many locals appreciate cats in Mediterranean cities, many also consider them to be vermin. It is widely believed, although denied by authorities, that thousands of stray dogs and cats were poisoned to clean up the streets and parks before the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
- A female cat can be impregnated by multiple males in a single litter: Thanks to the female cat’s unique reproductive system, kittens in the same litter can have many different fathers. This explains why kittens from the same litter can look so different from one another.
- The International Feline Federation and other similar organizations do not recognize the Aegean cat as an official breed: The only native variety of cats in Greece are a naturally occurring breed called the Aegean cats. This type of cat originated in the geographical region around the Cyclades Islands and Western Turkey. The reason they haven’t been recognized is likely since systematical breeding of the Aegean cat only started in the early 90s, and there are very few Aegean cats outside Greece and Turkey. Meanwhile, there are two breeds of cats indigenous to Turkey—the Turkish Angora and the Turkish Van—both of which are highly sought after breeds.
- Turkish cats are so good-looking that they made the silver screen: In 2016, a documentary film called Kedi ("cat" in Turkish) was released which follows a day in the life of seven cats around the city as they interact with residents. It’s one of the most popular foreign language documentaries, selling $4 million at the box office in the U.S.
- In Greece, cats don’t have nine lives: In Greece, a cat has seven lives—in fact, they say the cats have seven souls.
- “Cathletes” are a thing in Istanbul: The cats aren’t limited to the streets of Istanbul—they’ve even managed to make their way onto the soccer field during professional matches
Visit the cats of Greece and Turkey during our The Aegean Islands, Athens & Istanbul Small Ship Adventure
