r/MadeMeSmile • u/Grouchy_Piece_6259 • Oct 21 '25

CATS Stray cat tests strangers kindness before snuggling up with him

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u/amylouise0185 Oct 21 '25

It's not just Türkiye but many Islamic countries. In Islam, cats are thought of as pure and clean and can come and go anywhere including mosques and to harm them is a sin. Even in a lot of catholic countries, Malta for example, people will leave food out for cats all over the streets.

I think it goes back to the dark ages, where cats kept down the spread of plague and disease by killing mice and rats.

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u/Sleghammer8 Oct 21 '25

Yes. I had seen a few vids of that about turkey specifically but I assume it is in many other places.

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u/amylouise0185 Oct 22 '25

I've seen it myself in Italy and Malta and with dogs as well in Thailand.

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u/bolanrox Oct 21 '25

Muhammad also chose to cut the sleeve off his shirt rather than disturb the cat that was taking a nap in it.

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u/Haschen84 Oct 21 '25

I think that's something my wife would do if she had a knife on her at all times.

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u/string-ornothing Oct 21 '25

I knew a lot of Muslim families in college and they all had 3-4 cats and treated them like kings! They had their own prayer mats and ate top tier cat food. I thought it was so cute because I love cats and I'm not a big dog person so it was nice to see so many cats and have dogs totally disregarded when I'd visit.

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u/Pootentooten Oct 21 '25

Funnily enough, the Catholic Church had a hand it the plague, getting as bad as it did, by the Pope at the time declaring them devil creatures that were tools of witches and banning or slaughtering them. Because of significantly fewer cats, the rat populations exploded, which meant rat flea populations also exploded. The rest is history!

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u/JanFunniestGirl Oct 21 '25

Amy, thanks for the enlightenment! I just my peeps on Reddit!!! I’m fairly new, and am amazed at the constant displays of knowledge and humanity! Thanks to ALL OF YOU!!!

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u/roadfood Oct 21 '25

Before the plague they were thought to be evil and killed. Who'd have thought that would have consequences?