Kedi Page #5

and especially difficult with grown-ups.

I love cats who hang out in

vintage stores, "hmm the smell of paper"

stretching out among old LPs.

Its especially satisfying when Im sketching

she sleeps in the drawer

like a vintage store cat.

I check the drawer once in a while

"OK, shes still asleep"

And I carry on working.

Because drawing is such isolating work,

a sleeping cat can really give you comfort.

Any ungrateful behavior on their

part is really an act of sincerity.

They dont need to apologize.

I guess there are people

who expect that from a cat.

"I gave you all that food

and you wont even sit on my lap."

A relationship where they

expect a return on an investment.

Down the hill in Cihangir, there used

to be a big harbor during the Ottoman era.

Ships from Norway

and elsewhere would come with cargo.

Sailors would keep cats

on board to fend off rats.

As cargo was being unloaded,

cats would get off the boat

thinking that theyd made it to land.

And trek up to the top of the hill.

Later, theyd miss the boat

and begin life here in Cihangir.

Now, there are

countless kinds of cats in this area.

Norwegian cats,

and cats from all over the world.

Theres a lot of variety.

Later, the first Ottoman sewers

were built in this part of the city.

And giant rats would terrorize residents.

Thats why every house had a cat.

To fend off the giant sewer rats.

His name was "Milkman"

when he first showed up.

Hed come around to drink milk and leave.

He was barely a year old.

He hadn't been neutered.

Then he started showing up all beat up.

He got into fights

with other males over the ladies.

He got kicked one time and

showed up with a dislocated leg.

He was bitten by a dog and

showed up with a hole in his butt.

But it never ruins

his mood hes always happy.

A neighbor of mine started

calling him carefree, happy-go-lucky.

So the name Gamsiz carefree stuck.

Our vet Elif down the road

thought Gamsiz was in love with her.

Because at one point we were making

a trip to the vet every two weeks.

Constantly getting in trouble.

Hed have an accident, get hurt,

or develop a fungal infection.

For months,

we visited the vet every two weeks.

Once he spent a whole winter at the vet.

Doesnt that get expensive?

I guess it does.

But we all have running tabs at the vet.

Theres a bunch of us in the neighborhood.

We have an open tab

at pretty much every vet.

We also collect donations

which help with these expenses.

Whatever is in our tip box goes to the cats.

Gamsiz is a bit of a thug.

Hes feisty,

the tough guy of the neighborhood.

But, if you wanted go out at night,

hes the one youd want to go out with.

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