1. The Middle East and North Africa are home to a lot of cats.
2. And life isn't always easy.
3. Because these cats have a whole host of worries that are foreign to their American brethren.
4. They often have to contend with the threat of street violence.
5. The aftermath of military coups.
Mestika is very much invested in #morsi leaving! #cats #solidarity #downwithmorsi #tvbound #egypt #30june #june30
Nermine Amer ★
@NermineAmer
Mestika is very much invested in #morsi leaving! #cats #solidarity #downwithmorsi #tvbound #egypt #30june #june30
6. Local health risks, like tear gas canisters.
A.C.A.B. (All Cats Are Beautiful) ... from #Tunisia with love! #Resist
Mohamed Ghonemi
@Ghonemi
A.C.A.B. (All Cats Are Beautiful) ... from #Tunisia with love! #Resist
7. Political exploitation.
A group of Syrians are using Facebook to document death, destruction and cats: http://t.co/ykmv0pbRzg
VICE UK
@VICEUK
A group of Syrians are using Facebook to document death, destruction and cats: http://t.co/ykmv0pbRzg
8. And homes, families, and loved ones lost to war.
seeking refuge in #Aleppo via @HalabTodayTV #Syria
Ezzedine Said
@ezzsaid
seeking refuge in #Aleppo via @HalabTodayTV #Syria
9. It's often a life on the margins.
10. Then there's this enduring stereotype.
11. But these cats don't need your pity, as they know they've also got it good.
“@Elif_Safak: Cats of Istanbul... ” I love this!
Catrina
@Catrina500
“@Elif_Safak: Cats of Istanbul... †I love this!
12. They get to laze around in Istanbul.
Istanbul is full of stray cats. As a nation we adore cats. But why the bias against dogs???
Elif �k / Shafak
@Elif_Safak
Istanbul is full of stray cats. As a nation we adore cats. But why the bias against dogs???
13. Enjoy the fruits of the region's intellectual history.
Two common Istanbul sights: books and cats. My kinda town!
Lisa Bloom
@LisaBloom
Two common Istanbul sights: books and cats. My kinda town!
14. The comforts of religious traditions.
A pile (bundle?) of cats in #Istanbul
adella
@adellaaude
A pile (bundle?) of cats in #Istanbul
15. And bask in the beauty of the Bosphorus.
Istanbul's philosopher cats pondering the meaning of life... RT @Elif_Safak
Elif Bilgin Wong
@elifbilginwong
Istanbul's philosopher cats pondering the meaning of life... RT @Elif_Safak
16. They can enjoy the time-honored trades of Morocco.
In #Morocco , cats are preferred over dogs as canines are said to chase away good angels. #Marrakech souk (market)
Kyla Morgan
@kylamorgan1
In #Morocco , cats are preferred over dogs as canines are said to chase away good angels. #Marrakech souk (market)
17. And stroll through the blue streets of Chefchaouen.
Cats are everywhere in Morocco. Here's one I found just waiting to be photographed ;) #travel
Andrea Rees
@wanderingiphone
Cats are everywhere in Morocco. Here's one I found just waiting to be photographed ;) #travel
18. They are there to raise visitor numbers at Abu Simbal in Egypt.
19. Guard Petra in Jordan from any more Indiana Jones types.
20. Bear witness to the famed architecture of Syria.
21. Take a stroll through ancient Jerusalem.
22. And pose suggestively in front of religious institutions like any good tourist.
23. But unlike tourists, they are not impressed with normative guidebook expectations.
24. And instead do it their own way: I came, I saw, I napped.
25. Other times, they work their local charm, cosying up to tourists to silently mock their cluelessness all while getting a belly rub out of it.
26. Because cats understand way more about the "other" (you know, humans) than we think.
Why AUB cats are more Awesome Than you //http://t.co/jaMP6oAPVW #love#cats @AUB_Lebanon
Hussein Ghazi
@hussein_1
Why AUB cats are more Awesome Than you //http://t.co/jaMP6oAPVW #love#cats @AUB_Lebanon
27. They've mastered the art of hissing and staring at passerbys from their motorbikes.
28. They know the best way to make use of local news.
29. They are experts on the local cuisine.
Looks aristocratic:-) RT @tayfunsen: Besiktas cat. That's what istanbul is, a city of cats.
Gladys Fernandez
@Gladysfernandez
Looks aristocratic:-) RT @tayfunsen: Besiktas cat. That's what istanbul is, a city of cats.
30. And they are always down to party. Especially the Lebanese ones.
31. Of course, like everywhere, there's also a lot of this.
Just cats having a threesome - Lebanon http://t.co/MRmUiab9Zn via @9GAG
Walid M Rihane
@walidmrihane
Just cats having a threesome - Lebanon http://t.co/MRmUiab9Zn via @9GAG
32. And then afterwards this.
Another version of Humans of Lebanon. Cats of Lebanon - hamra. so chubby! Will name it Chubster.
Alice
@Alice_fromearth
Another version of Humans of Lebanon. Cats of Lebanon - hamra. so chubby! Will name it Chubster.
33. All cats are there to be loved. And in the end, they may be our only hope.
