Istanbul Governor Davut Gül's remarks: 'Not everyone can just feed cats'

Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, while answering questions about the agenda during a television program, made notable assessments regarding animals living on the streets.

Stating that it is not right to leave food for stray animals in an unconscious manner, Gül used the expression, "Not everyone who comes along should be feeding cats."

"THE BALANCE OF NATURE HAS BEEN DISRUPTED"

Giving examples on the subject, Gül said the following:

"Fatih Municipality had established its shelter within its own district borders before us. Fatih and Esenyurt are our best districts. If there is a will, there is no problem that cannot be solved. The balance of nature has disappeared. The balance of nature has disappeared. Normally, cats catch mice; in Istanbul, cats do not catch mice, cats are fed with food, and mice eat food together with the cats. Therefore, this needs to be eliminated. One should not say, 'I felt like it, let me give food on this sidewalk.'

This means let's collect these cats. Not everyone who comes along should be feeding cats. If you want to feed a cat, feed it in your home. A system where mice and cats eat food together is not a healthy system."

Touching upon the situation regarding dogs in his statements, Governor Gül expressed that the permeability between districts creates problems, stating, "The land needed by the municipalities has been allocated. There are those whose construction is completed, those whose construction is ongoing, and those that have not yet started. Our main problem is this: The districts in Istanbul are very intertwined; you cannot tell if a dog in Kağıthane has crossed into Şişli. Is this Kağıthane's dog or Şişli's dog?" he said.