Felids

The local gendarmerie caught the smuggling of a "Savannah" breed African wildcat in the northwestern province of Sakarya during an operation over the animal smugglers conducted on Dec. 1.

Villagers living in the Central Anatolian province of Çorum's Bayat district have been living in fear of a "lion" for a while.
Since their livestock has been destroyed by an unknown wild animal recently, those living in Emirhalil village claim that it was a lion that was attacking the herds.

After several decades of low numbers, the return of the lynx to the European forests is slow but steady. The Eurasian lynx was once quite common in most of Europe.

A rare snow leopard captured as it savaged livestock in a remote village in the Indian Himalaya will be sent to a zoo instead of being released, officials said on May 3, triggering outrage from activists.     

Van cats, put under protection at the "Cat Villa," gave birth to a total of nine kittens. (AA Photo)

Van cats, put under protection at the "Cat Villa," gave birth to a total of nine kittens. (AA Photo)

A local neighborhood head has built many cat houses to help the felines survive the winter.

Mehmet Özcan, the head of the Yaşamkent neighborhood in the Black Sea province of Bolu, has put 17 cat houses around to sustain the lives of cats in this cold winter season.

Bolu, housing the famous Kartalkaya ski center, is known for its harsh winter conditions.

Van cats, which have become the symbol of eastern province of Van with their white, silky fur and different eye colors, will be on the podium at the International Happy Cats Contest in Istanbul.

Two Van cats, named "Su" and "Başak," have been nominated for the Istanbul International Cat Beauty Contest, which will be held between Oct. 31 and Nov. 3. The contest will host 200 cats.

Created about 30 years ago, the Moscow Cat Theatre is the only place in the world that engages cats as actors in its performances.