The Unofficial Citizens of Istanbul: Why Cats Hold the Key to the City’s Soul

Anyone who spends time in Istanbul notices the same thing. Before the history, before the Bosphorus, before the skyline, there are the cats. They move through the city with an ease that feels almost ancient, as if they have always been here and the rest of us are simply passing through.

The documentary Kedi captures this presence with an honesty that resonates deeply with anyone who knows the city. Cats are not a curiosity in Istanbul. They are part of its emotional landscape, woven into its daily rhythms and into the hearts of the people who live here.

1. The Cat as the City’s Pulse

Many residents believe that removing the cats would take something essential away from Istanbul. It is not sentimentality. It is recognition. These animals mirror the chaotic, creative, stubbornly independent nature of the city itself.

“If the cats disappear, part of Istanbul disappears. ”This sentence feels true because Istanbul has grown with its cats. They anchor the city’s sense of continuity, even as everything else changes.

2. More Than a Pet: Healing, Meaning, and the Search for Grace

For some people in the film, a cat is the difference between despair and resilience.

A woman recovering from emotional exhaustion describes feeding the cats as “total therapy,” explaining that the routine of caring for another living being brought her back to herself.

Others speak of cats as quiet spiritual companions. They believe animals absorb negative energy, ease tension, and create a space where love becomes easier to offer.

One fisherman says that the cats on his boat calm him the same way prayer beads do.

Another person explains that caring for animals feels like a path God placed in front of them, a way of practicing kindness without expecting anything in return.

3. The Characters Who Run the Neighborhoods

One of the strengths of Kedi is that it refuses to portray the cats as a single category. Each has a distinct personality, each formed by the streets they rule.

Gamsız: His name means “carefree,” and he lives exactly that way. He is charming, mischievous, and persistent. He approaches doors sideways, lifting a single paw as if knocking politely. Everyone in the neighborhood knows this gesture.

The Bluefish Thief: A fierce female cat who terrorizes fishermen on the Galata side. She chases off dogs twice her size and ignores cheap anchovies. Only the finest çinekop will do. She behaves like a critic who refuses to compromise, and people respect her for it.

4. Independence is Not Ingratitude

Many cultures misunderstand cats and call them ungrateful. The documentary offers a beautifully different perspective.

People describe cats as honorable because they do not fake affection. They show love freely but refuse to pretend. One belief shared in the film is that a dog thinks its human is God, while a cat believes God provides the food and the human is only the messenger. It is not arrogance. It is honesty. It is a reminder that relationships can be close without ownership.

5. From Ships to Sewers: How History Shaped the Cat City

The presence of so many cats is not accidental. Cihangir, one of the city’s most famous cat districts, used to be a port. Cats traveled on ships for pest control. When some missed the boat or chose not to return, they stayed and thrived.

Later, as Istanbul modernized its sewer systems, rats became a serious problem. Cats became indispensable guardians of the home. Their role as protectors never disappeared, even when the city changed around them.

If you walk through Istanbul today, pause for a moment when a cat crosses your path. Watch the way they claim the sun on a stone step, the way they look at you as if you have been expected, the way they accept your kindness without losing their dignity.

They are not strays.

They are co-authors of the city’s identity.

They hold a quiet key to its soul.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Why are there so many cats in Istanbul?

A: Istanbul’s cats are the result of centuries of coexistence. As a historic port city with dense neighborhoods, cats naturally became part of urban life. Over time, they came to be seen not as strays, but as shared members of the city.

Q: Is religion the only reason cats are respected in Turkey?

A: Religion plays a role, but it is not the only reason. Cultural habits, neighborhood life, and long-standing urban traditions all contribute to the way cats are treated with care and familiarity in Turkish cities.

Q: Are there Turkish expressions related to cats?

A: Yes. Turkish uses many cat-related expressions. For example, kedi gibi dört ayak üstüne düşmek means to survive a difficult situation easily, and kedi olalı bir fare tuttu is used when someone finally succeeds after many failures.