Photos: This place is known as 'The City of Cats'
Kittens rest in a cat house on the street on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. August 8 is Internataional Cat Day.Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat rests in front of a toy shop on August 6, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city' streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A kitten looks out from a neighborhood cat house on August 4, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat eats in a park on August 4, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city' streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY - AUGUST 06: A cat waits by food bowls on a street on August 6, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. In 2016 a documentary film "Kedi" meaning cat in Turkish, which followed the daily life of a group of cats in the city grossed more than four million USD at the box office making it one of the highest grossing foreign language films to date. August 8 is International Cat Day. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)Chris McGrathCopyright 2018 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat rests on a moped on August 6, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sits in front of souvenir shop on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat waits to enter a shop on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat rests inside a clothing shop on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat looks out from an electronics store on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A man plays with a kitten on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat rests in a plant pot on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A man feeds cats on the street on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sits on a car on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sits on top of a cat house on the street on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sleeps on packaging material on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat walks along the shoreline of the Bosphorus on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sleeps next to an Ottoman bust on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sleeps in a cat house in a park on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' In 2016 a documentary film "Kedi" meaning cat in Turkish, which followed the daily life of a group of cats in the city grossed more than four million USD at the box office making it one of the highest grossing foreign language films to date. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A kitten plays in a park on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cats wait for fishermen to feed them their catch on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sleeps at the entrance to an apartment building on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat sits next to fish caught from the Bosphurus on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' In 2016 a documentary film "Kedi" meaning cat in Turkish, which followed the daily life of a group of cats in the city grossed more than four million USD at the box office making it one of the highest grossing foreign language films to date. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A kitten plays with a feather in a park on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats.Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A kitten looks out from a cat house in a park on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca.Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cats wait for fishermen to feed them their catch on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. In Islam cats are considered ritually clean animals and the only animal to be permitted to enter the Great Mosque of Mecca and there are many stories in the history books referencing the Prophet Muhammad's love of cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrath© 2017 Newsy.com. All Rights Reserved.
A cat sleeps outside a luxury clothing store on August 8, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
People pass by as a cat sleeps at a train station on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat yawns on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
A cat is illuminated by car lights on the street on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Cats gather in the street on August 7, 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey. Istanbul is known as the City of Cats and sometimes referred to as 'Catstanbul.' Hundreds of thousands of cats have roamed the metropolis for thousands of years. The city's streets are lined with food and water bowls and small cat houses placed by residents in a communal effort to look after the street cats. August 8 is International Cat Day. Chris McGrathImage copyright 2018 Getty Images. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.