In Istanbul's narrow backstreets, cats perch on rooftops and window sills, crouch on doorsteps and rest on nearly every corner. Whether lounging in sunlight, grooming themselves or scampering into shops in search of food, cats have become an inseparable part of neighborhood life in Europe's biggest city. /VCG Photo

They are so ubiquitous that no one bats an eye at a cat padding across the lobby of a high-rise office building, or when one curls up to sleep on a nearby barstool. /VCG Photo

Shop owners and locals often know their neighborhood cats by name and will tell tales about them, as if chatting about a friend. /VCG Photo