Istanbul’s lazy cat Tombili’s sculpture marks World Animal Day

October 3 marked the observance of World Animal Day, an internationally celebrated day to improve welfare standards of animals around the world and also the feast day of Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals. In Istanbul, World Animal Day celebrated with the opening of a sculpture designed in memory of Tombili, a phenomenal cat that passed on Aug. 10 in Kadıköy.

Upon a petition on change.org demanding a sculpture for the famous cat, sculptor Seval Şahin built the commemorative sculpture. The sculpture will be inaugurated on October 4 World Animal Day in the exact same location where Tombili posed for the famous picture.

Upon a petition on change.org demanding a sculpture for the famous cat, sculptor Seval Şahin built the commemorative sculpture. The sculpture will be inaugurated on October 4 World Animal Day in the exact same location where Tombili posed for the famous picture.

The fuzzy cat became popular after her photos, showing her sitting like a boss on a side walk, were circulated on social media channels. Often resembling Garfield's lazy style, Tombili had fallen ill in July and passed away a month later.

According to an article in Sabah, Tombili was born in the neighborhood of Ziverbey along with her sister, "Kezban," who lost her life when she was very small. Züleyla Sarıca and Bahtiyar Sarıca, the owners of the house where Tombili was born, said, "When they were babies we made a small cottage in the garden. Everyone loved them and came to see them to take photos."

The word "tombili" is frequently used for chubby pets in Turkish. Residents in Ziverbey's Güleç Çıkmazı Street announced her passing by hanging posters, saying "You will live in our hearts" on the tree where Tombili would lay beside.