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https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2025/07/marcel-heijnen-city-cats-of-istanbul/>
"In some parts of the world, stray animals are nearly as beloved as pets.
Thousands of dogs roam the streets of Cusco, Peru, for example, and cats pretty
much rule the night in places like Athens, Valletta, and Japan’s “cat islands.”
Local residents often feed and provide shelter for these roving colonies, and
for Dutch photographer Marcel Heijnen, this human-animal connection provides
endless opportunities to experience urban centers.
Previously exploring cities in China and Hong Kong, where street cats are
abundant, Heijnen recently brought his camera to the largest city in Turkey to
chronicle some of the most famous feral felines in Europe. A forthcoming book
from Thames & Hudson,
City Cats of Istanbul, celebrates the area’s local
four-legged shop attendants, guardians, cuddlers, and consummate snoozers.
Heijnen captures the spirit of Istanbul through portraits of its residents,
shops, homes, and serendipitous interactions. While some images focus on cats
up-close, other images emphasize the city’s remarkable atmosphere and playfully
invite us to seek out where felines are perched or playing. Many cats are
documented in moments of calm repose, while others appear as though they’ve
been caught red-handed, climbing up architectural elements or embracing all
manner of archetypal kitty chaos.
See more of Heijnen’s photos on his website and Instagram, and pre-order your
copy of
City Cats of Istanbul on Bookshop. If you’re in Istanbul in
September, stop by the release event at 6 p.m. on September 20 at the Cat
Museum."
Via Susan ****
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
