Marcel Heijnen – författare

For cat lovers everywhere, these wonderful photographs highlight the felines who inhabit the streets of Istanbul, a city famous for its love of cats. This stunning photobook delves into the lives of the thousands of cats that roam the streets of Istanbul. The photographs show the unique personalities of these street cats, each with its own story and charm. From lounging on cobblestones and shop fronts, to perching on colourful market stalls, the cats appear in a variety of urban settings, offering a glimpse into the vibrant spirit and culture of Istanbul and its local inhabitants. The book explores how the feral cats of Istanbul are represented in various media, with social media, notably TikTok and Instagram, a particular medium through which Istanbul’s cats have gained widespread popularity. The historical and contemporary cultural significance of cats in Turkish society is presented in essays by the photographer Marcel Heijnen, haiku by Ian Row, and even first-person accounts written from the perspectives of the cats themselves – all interwoven with Marcel’s beautiful photography.

China’s shop cats are little emperors of their own retail kingdoms, keeping rodents at bay and enticing customers inside. And now they are also the stars of this delightful little book, the companion to Shop Cats of Hong Kong. Marcel Heijnen’s compelling photographs take you from shop to shop across the provinces of China, where traditional retail and street life merge, rolling back the shutters on a little bit of Chinese culture and a whole lot of moggy charm. Meanwhile, Ian Row’s intuitive haiku and stories invite you into the cats’ innermost thoughts – sometimes catty, sometimes sweet, but always with a whisker or two of love.With 90 illustrations in colour