Turkish Property Port

Moda & Cihangir: Istanbul’s cat-friendly neighborhoods

If you are a cat-lover, who has just arrived in Istanbul for the first time, prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Because this is a city owned by cats. No, really. Since Ottoman times, cats have been bred and loved by the city’s residents. They have been the city’s primary defense line against rats and the favorite pet of its residents. Although many people keep cats as pets at their homes, a walk through almost any residential neighborhood will show that street cats are abundant and well taken care of by the residents of these neighborhoods. Cats also have a special place in Islam, as there are well-known stories like how a cat stopped a snake sneaking up on the Prophet Muhammad. Although cats can be seen almost everywhere in Istanbul, we will focus on two very popular neighborhoods, where cats’ dominance is unparalleled. 

Moda

Moda Istanbul Turkey

This neighborhood in Kadıköy has, in recent years, become one of the city’s trendiest places to live. One of the prominent places for those looking to buy property in Istanbul, Moda is literally a cats’ paradise. The area is right by the seaside promenade, known as Moda Sahil. A short walk from Kadıköy port to Moda will take you down this promenade and once there, you’ll start seeing flocks of cats dominating the area. Moda’s quite streets and gardened apartments house huge numbers of cats as well. There are shelters, water dispensers and many volunteers feeding the cats. The residents around Moda also look after many stray dogs that happily and peacefully share the neighborhood with the cats. Some might even say that cats and dogs have divided the area among themselves and allowed the residents to live there as well. Next time you are in the Kadıköy area, just stroll down to one of Moda’s lovely cafés for breakfast. Local favorites like ice cream shop Ali Usta, Moda Tea Garden and Eyfel Patisserie are definitely worth checking out as well. Whatever you decide to do, make sure to share some of your food with the cats, the true owners of this neighborhood.

Cihangir

Cihangir Istanbul Turkey

The cats of Cihangir are so famous that there is even a famous comic strip in a popular humor magazine and an animated movie inspired by them. Bad Cat Şerafettin may be a fictional character, but the dominance of cats in Cihangir is very real, indeed. Mostly because of the caring and thoughtful residents of the area, cats really thrive in Cihangir. The area, only a stone’s throw from Taksim, is recognized as one of the darlings of both expats and locals. Anyone hoping to invest in real estate in Istanbul should look into the area. Not only is it a beautiful and hip place with many cafés and restaurants, it also houses tourist attractions like the Museum of Innocence and Cihangir Mosque. The cats of this expensive neighborhood are well fed, happy and literally living the best life in Istanbul, together with the cats of Moda.