All images © Marcel Heijnen, shared with permission # Marcel Heijnen Captures Loving Portraits of Feisty, Feral Felines in ‘City Cats of Istanbul’ July 21, 2025 BooksPhotography Kate Mothes * Share * Pin * Email * Copy * __Bookmark In some parts of the world, stray animals are nearly as beloved as pets. Thousands of dogs roam the streets of Cusco, Peru, for example, and cats pretty much rule the night in places like Athens, Valletta, and Japan’s “cat islands.” Local residents often feed and provide shelter for these roving colonies, and for Dutch photographer Marcel Heijnen, this human-animal connection provides endless opportunities to experience urban centers. Previously exploring cities in China and Hong Kong, where street cats are abundant, Heijnen recently brought his camera to the largest city in Turkey to chronicle some of the most famous feral felines in Europe. A forthcoming book from Thames & Hudson, _City Cats of Istanbul,_ celebrates the area’s local four-legged shop attendants, guardians, cuddlers, and consummate snoozers. Heijnen captures the spirit of Istanbul through portraits of its residents, shops, homes, and serendipitous interactions. While some images focus on cats up-close, other images emphasize the city’s remarkable atmosphere and playfully invite us to seek out where felines are perched or playing. Many cats are documented in moments of calm repose, while others appear as though they’ve been caught red-handed, climbing up architectural elements or embracing all manner of archetypal kitty chaos. See more of Heijnen’s photos on his website and Instagram, and pre-order your copy of _City Cats of Istanbul_ on Bookshop. If you’re in Istanbul in September, stop by the release event at 6 p.m. on September 20 at the Cat Museum. **Do stories and artists like this matter to you?** Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing. * Hide advertising * Save your favorite articles * Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop * Receive members-only newsletter * Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms ### Join us today! $7/month $75/year Explore membership options Previous article Next article

All images © Gulce Kilkis and Dan Rimada, courtesy of Epic Ink, shared with permission # ‘Bodega Cats of New York’ Advocates for the City’s Beloved Feline Shopkeepers August 5, 2026 BooksPhotography Kate Mothes * Share * Pin * Email * Copy * __Bookmark In 2022, New York resident and bonafide feline devotee Dan Rimada felt that something needed to be done to shine a light on the city’s cats. The Big Apple not only has a real feral issue, but many of these creatures make their homes in iconic shops found around the city: bodegas. Over time, locals get to know them and they become fixtures of shelves and countertops. Technically, though, New York City considers it a health code violation to have animals in businesses that serve food. In spite of that, thousands of cats serve as mousers and rat catchers, and a lot of people don’t realize that the snoozy tabby nestled atop the Doritos bags is actually illegal. Rimada founded Bodega Cats of New York to bring visibility to these beloved, informal shop staffers. This fall, a new book published by Epic Ink titled _Bodega Cats of New York_ features 120 photos of 60 cats across all five boroughs along with their stories. The images are snapped by photographer Gulce Kilkis, who also runs the Instagram account @turkish_street_cats. Advocacy is as much a part of Rimada’s mission as documenting kitties familiar to neighborhood customers, such as Oreo in Park Slope and Prince in SoHo. The type of care or attention the cats get can vary from store to store. Some are treated like royalty, while others are more like interlopers that are tolerated. Nevertheless, Rimada shares their individual stories and raises awareness of the wide range of realities for these animals. Although they are still in committee, two bills facilitated by Rimada have been introduced that would “stop New York City agencies from treating a cat in a retail food store as an automatic New York City Health Code violation” along with requiring voluntary, free vaccination and spay/neuter programs. The other bill would legally allow cats in retail stores as long as they met veterinary requirements. “We want to protect what makes New York City feel like home,” Rimada says in a statement. “And that includes taking care of the cats that are a part of it.” _Bodega Cats of New York_ is slated for release in early November. Meet hundreds more feline friends on Instagram, and pre-order your copy on the project’s website. You might also enjoy Marcel Heijnen’s _City Cats of Istanbul _and a trip through art history with Phaidon’s _Cat_ _._ **Do stories and artists like this matter to you?** Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing. * Hide advertising * Save your favorite articles * Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop * Receive members-only newsletter * Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms ### Join us today! $7/month $75/year Explore membership options Next article