The Sound of Silence

Tombili: Istanbul cat and worldwide meme honoured with statue

‘Tombili’, a rotund cat beloved by Istanbul’s Ziverbey neighbourhood, has been commemorated by the city authorities after local demand for a tribute to his memory. Tombili - a Turkish word often used for chubby pets - was known by residents of Ziverbey, part of the district of Kadıköy, for his nonchalant demeanour towards people who wanted to play with him. The cat became world famous earlier this year after a photo of him reclining in one of his favourite spots on the pavement was shared thousands of times on social media. Kadıköy’s deputy mayor said in the inauguration ceremony that 17,000 people had demanded a memorial sculpture.