Photographer Marcel Heijnen captures the Cats of Istanbul

Marcel Heijnen Captures Loving Portraits of Feisty, Feral Felines in 'City Cats of Istanbul'

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…

Photographer Marcel Heijnen captures the Cats of Istanbul

The Dutch creative returns with a new book exploring Istanbul's symbiotic relationship with its cherished cats through evocative images, lyrical haiku, and centuries of history. It was the natural next step. After photographing feline companions in Hong Kong and China, Dutch photographer Marcel Heijnen turned his lens to the cat capital of the world: Istanbul. "I initially expected someone would've already done a photo book," he says, "but there…