Even stray cats, who have no owners, can become special parts of our lives, thanks to strangers who care for them and provide them with food and shelter. Many communities are filled with stray cats who have no owners. Kedi, a documentary film about Istanbul’s stray cats, is noteworthy not only for its sheer number, but also its integration into daily life. With her carefree attitude, one stray cat stood out among the hundreds that roamed the Turkish city, lasting a lifetime in the memory of the city.
Tombili, a nickname for chubby cats in Turkish, was a well-liked cat among the locals. Despite her hefty figure and relaxed posture, Tombili seemed to have it all figured out. She got even more famous when photos of her iconic pose made it online. There’s just something so relatable about this cat. People would often stop to visit Tombili on the sidewalk in Kadköy in which she sat in a relaxed state. She had a good life… but sadly, Tombili died on August 1, 2016.
Tombili was such an icon of the Turkish stray cat world that the city of Istanbul made a statue of her in honor of her legacy as an icon of the Turkish stray cat world. Heartbroken locals wanted to put up a memorial for the world-famous stray, and a Change.org petition was created to put up a statue. “The petition hopes that Tombili, the neighborhood’s mascot for 11 years, will be remembered and not forgotten in a similar manner,” it says. After the campaign was completed, Seval Ahing donated his time to create a statue of Tombili in her famous pose.
It is a way for people to come and remember their old friends… human and animal alike. On World Animal Protection Day, October 4, people will be able to come and pay tribute to their old friend. Among the photos, one shows a cat honoring the icon:
