Cat Has Been Living In The Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, For 16 Years, and Tourists Are Obsessed With Her
Gli has spent more than 16 years turning the Hagia Sophia into her own unofficial kingdom, and tourists clearly cannot get enough of her. The famous Istanbul landmark has changed roles many times over the centuries, but this cross-eyed European shorthair has stayed put through it all.
Her Instagram following keeps growing, and so does the fascination around the cat who seems to greet visitors like she owns the place. Between the history, the crowds, and the constant camera flashes, Gli has become part of the Hagia Sophia experience.
And once you see her photos, it is easy to understand why people keep coming back for more.
One small step for this cat, one giant leap for all kitty kind.
Gli is quite popular on Instagram, with over 47.2k followers. The cat's account is run by Umut Bahceci, who was also born in Istanbul.
Bahceci has a special kind of love for Hagia Sophia, which is one of the reasons she decided to become a tour guide as a career while it was still a museum.
Istanbul is so famous for its stray cats that many people have decided to make documentaries about them.
It was normal to see cats both around and in Hagia Sophia, but there was something special about this one. I saw a light in her from the very beginning of our relationship. The way she poses, the way she walks, and the way she behaves is totally different from other cats, even her sister Kizim.
One day, I saw her in the newspaper in a photo with Obama and President Erdoğan," Bahceci said. "It was then that I learned her name."
Gli actually means 'union of love,' which perfectly describes the cat's character.
After watching Gli interact with people, Bahceci noticed that the cat actually brought everyone together in such a unique way. People of all races and religions couldn't help but smile when they met Gli.
I created an Instagram account for Gli so that I could collect and keep her photos in one place. Eventually, people slowly started sending me their pictures of her.
Posing for cameras is Gli's favorite thing to do; however, sometimes when Hagia Sophia becomes a little too overcrowded, the cat might opt to temporarily hide in a quiet corner. "In winter, she loves to be in front of the light projectors because they do a good job of keeping her warm."
There are currently no plans to relocate Gli, so she will remain a resident of Hagia Sophia, which is her birthplace and where she grew up even before it was converted to a mosque.
Who doesn't appreciate a good stretchy kitty cat?
Such a photogenic cat.
It’s also similar to the Tampa woman who left her mansion and inheritance to seven Persian cats.
Sweet, sleepy kitty.
"I showed you my cat, please respond."
This cat has paws with presence.
What a face.
Just a cat enjoying her day.
Want more street-cat magic like Helin Bereket’s tribute to Istanbul felines? See the stunning photos here.
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