Ankara Castle Cats: Silent Residents of the Centuries

The stones of Ankara Castle date back to the Roman Empire; those who roam between the walls are almost the same old. The Galatians passed, the Byzantines lived, the Seljuks and the Ottomans repaired the castle walls. But all this time the castle’s silent partners have not changed at all: cats. Here is the story of the pawed residents of Ankara Castle over the centuries — at 9 stops.

1They have been the castle’s kitchen guards since Roman times.

Ankara’s Roman name was “Ancyra,” and the fortress garrison fed thousands of soldiers. Barley barns, sacks of flour, dried meats — paradise for rats, nightmare for soldiers. Cats were involved early in this struggle. It is not mentioned in historical sources, but the logic is simple: where there were mice, there was a cat. Today’s Angora cats may be the descendants of that old army of soldiers.

2They were considered “auspicious residents” during the Seljuk era.

When Ankara joined the Seljuk lands in the 11th century, the special love of Islamic culture for cats was carried into the castle. The acceptance of cats as clean in the hadiths and the narratives about the Prophet’s love of cats directly affected the public’s approach to these animals. In the madrasahs and mosques inside the castle, cats were fed instead of being expelled.

3They were the official “farekovar” of the castle in the Ottoman Empire.

During the Ottoman period, Ankara Castle served as a military garrison and grain warehouse. In salnames, even a small amount of milk and liver is spent for “cat separation” in castle kitchens. The cats had not taken on any official duties, but their functions were known to all: no one could handle the mice, the cats were coming out. Ankara’s famous Angora cat breed may also have evolved from the city’s general cat population.

4Ulucans and Hamamönü spread to their neighborhoods.

The cat population naturally spread to the historic neighborhoods (Hamamönü, Ulucanlar, Samanpazarı) on the outskirts of the castle. It is possible to see cats in narrow streets in 19th-century photographs. After the restoration of Hamamönü, these cats are now the favorite models of photographers. Although Kal does not have it, they are living symbols of a culture that has moved like historical heritage.

5They earned a “castle” ID during the Republican era.

When Ankara became the capital in the early years of the Republic, the castle was restored and entered the category of “historical heritage”. The unclaimed but calm cats they encountered when the visitors came up here became part of the castle’s story. The phrase “the cat of Ankara Castle” began to appear in newspaper articles after the 1970s — a concept that joined urban folklore.

6Neighborhood residents fed them from generation to generation.

Families living around Hamamönü, Samanpazarı and Kale continue to feed cats almost like a ritual. Water and food on old plates in front of some houses, cushions separated in front of some grocery stores. Without this support, the population of castle cats would not be easily protected in intense winter conditions. Civilian care has been burdened for decades where there is no official support.

7Ankara Metropolitan Municipality later adopted it.

Since the 2010s, Ankara Metropolitan Municipality has started regular food distribution, sterilization campaigns and vaccination programs for stray animals. Cats around the castle became one of the first groups of these programs. Castle cats with earrings (a sign of neutering) in their ears; the visible result of the city’s systematic approach.

8They created the “number one photo of Ankara” of tourists.

In the age of Instagram and TikTok, Ankara Castle cats have become a tourist icon. Photos of cats who went up to the castle and yawned in the golden hour light, put a head in the visitors’ bag, and slept in the corners of Hamamönü received millions of views. As of 2026, the signature “You can’t go to Ankara without taking a photo of a cat” has been established.

9They stay in the castle for life because it’s theirs.

Interesting observation: although they migrated to the surrounding neighborhoods, the cats of the castle always return to the castle. It’s as if the stone walls mean a “home” to them. Some zoological studies show that cats can remain attached to a specific area for generations. Ankara Castle cats are a living example of this phenomenon; a nesting commitment that has lasted for centuries.

As a result,

The cats of Ankara Castle are not just “street animals”, but the silent inhabitants of the castle’s unwritten history book. In a chronicle from Rome to the present day, they are small but constant heroes. When you visit, have a pack of cat food in your hand — add to the tradition of centuries. And if you’re thinking about getting a cat in your home, maybe not a breeder, but a shelter or a stray cat — the possibility that your Minnoş’s ancestors roamed Ankara Castle is not to be underestimated.