Istanbul’s own top cat Tombili dies

For those weary of the violence and the political posturing following the failed coup in Turkey, there was something different to mourn about.

Tombili, the Istanbul cat, and a social media star from the city’s Ziverbey neighborhood, died on August 1. The cat with an attitude became a phenomenon after a photo of him casually posing on a sidewalk became talked about online.

The Turkish Hurriet Daily News, the leading news source for Turkey and the region, featured Tombili’s death as the lead in its Life section on Wednesday. He died after being ill for the past month.

The comic site 9GAG had carried his iconic picture that triggered the fame online, showing the world how to be a Turkish cat. Many memes were in circulation, some placing a rakı glass or a teacup in front of him on the sidewalk he made famous!

Following his death, a notice hung on a tree in the neighborhood’s Güleç Street, according the Hurriet Daily News. It said: “You will live in our hearts.”

Locals were quoted in the report as saying that Tombili was known for “his cool and carefree behavior towards those who wanted to love and play with him.”