Kitties galore

Compared to other big cities, Istanbul is a kitty paradise. We've been here five days and I haven't seen a skinny stray cat. I started getting curious when I noticed that the stray cats aren't scared of people. They will come up to you for a pat and a cuddle.

Apparently cats are revered by the Turks because Mohammed tore his coat, rather than wake up the cat sleeping on it. So although there are stray cats everywhere - they aren't mistreated. The locals feed them. Some of the strays still look a bit manky - unkept fur and the odd sore - but at least they aren't hungry.

There are a litter of kittens sleeping in a cardboard box in a nice dry niche under the window of the neighbouring guesthouse. The Turk in the pic is looking after them and feeding them.

So the Turkish human rights record might be shaky. But the cats are doing ok. Nice.