Everywhere we went in Turkey and Jordan, there were lots of cats. Istanbul, Ephesus, Petra, our resort at the Dead Sea, Jerash… they were all full of cats. Most were quite friendly and appeared to be pretty well cared for, despite not having permanent homes. In Istanbul, neighbors often treat the neighborhood cats and dogs as communal pets, feeding and caring for them. We saw plenty of evidence of this. Still, some were definitely in need of better nutrition and veterinary care. Here are some that we encountered.