Ottoman-era cat doors reopen at Sultan’s Harem in Istanbul

Ottoman-era cat doors have been restored and made fully operational for feline creatures to move freely through the Karaaglar Quarters of the Harem at Istanbul’s Topkabi palace in Turkey.

The restoration of the small doors for cats is part of an ongoing conservation effort for the Karaaglar quarters.

For context, Karaaglar quarter served as a living area for karaagas - the officials responsible for the safety of the Ottoman Sultan and his family.

The restoration and furnishing process took 10-years and the quarters are now open to visitors.

Istanbul is home to nearly a million feral cats, which have long been a beloved part of the city’s history. It is also known as “the city of cats” due to the well-cared population of street cats.

The centuries-old passage used by the feline creature serves as a symbol of Ottoman’s care for the pets and its reopening has allowed the silent footsteps of cats to echo on the palace’s historic stone floor once again.

Netizens have shared light-hearted reactions to the news. One user declared the “Ottomans” to be “Cattomans”. 

Another user pointed toward Iran's similar tradition, stating, “In Iran also, houses had this small doorway for cats, it was called ‘gorbeh ro’. Now they don’t exist unfortunately.”