‘Catstanbul’: Ottoman Legacy Leaves Istanbul Ruled by 250,000 Street Cats
Discover why Istanbul is known as ‘Catstanbul’. The city’s unique bond with its estimated 250,000 stray cats dates back to the Ottoman Empire and the creation of “cat sitters” (mancacı). Today, a sophisticated system of free vet services and local feeding sustains these hybrid community pets, making the Turkish metropolis a global model for human-animal coexistence.





