Although cats may not be our pets, they can still have a significant impact on our lives. Numerous areas are plagued with feral cats, without any owners to care for them. However, generous individuals often provide food and shelter to help them survive. Istanbul is particularly known for its vast population of stray cats, which have become an integral part of daily life. In fact, the cats are so important to the city that they are featured in a documentary film called Kedi.
Amid the numerous stray animals wandering around the city in Turkey, there was one particular cat that caught everyone’s attention. The city officials ensured she wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon.
Tombili, a beloved stray cat from the Kadköy area in Istanbul, gained even more fame when photographs of her signature pose went viral. This feline had a special quality that made her extremely likable. People often visited her on the pavement where she would relax and bask in the sun. Tombili lived an idyllic life until she passed away on August 1, 2016. Nevertheless, her memory lives on as a symbol of the Turkish stray cat community because of her immense popularity amongst the residents of Istanbul.
The community was devastated by the loss of their beloved stray pet. In order to commemorate her memory, locals created a petition on Change.org to erect a statue in her honor. The hope was to ensure that Tombili, who had been a beloved neighborhood mascot for over a decade and had gained worldwide fame, would be remembered and cherished. The petition gathered enough support and an artist named Seval ahin graciously volunteered to create the monument. The statue was placed in Tombili’s familiar spot and captures her iconic pose.
The unveiling of a statue took place on World Animal Protection Day, October 4th, serving as a gathering spot for people to honor their past companions, be it human or animal. In one particular photograph, a cat makes an appearance to pay homage to the beloved figure who has since passed away.
