Cats – the furry feline friends of Algeria  

In our culture, the cat is sacred. It’s crazy how people take care of them, feed them, and respect them. You will never see a cat hungry or thirsty, they are spoiled by all Algerians. Like Istanbul, Algiers can be called the city of cats. They are simply everywhere, even in mosques attending prayer.

This love or fondness of cats in our society might be explained by one simple story. Many Muslims believe that Muezza was Muhammad’s favourite cat and one day, when Muhammad prepared to attend prayer, he discovered Muezza sleeping on the sleeve of his prayer robe. Rather than put her aside, he used a pair of scissors to cut the sleeve off, leaving the cat undisturbed. He then smiled and gently stroked his beloved cat three times. Cats are therefore thought to have a special value and even to bring luck to our homes.

This is a tribute to the lovely feline friends of Algeria. Through my photos, I try to capture the special place of cats in our lives. The special human-animal bound, but also the crazy personality of each individual cat. I believe that the allure of a cat photo lies in the unexpected and often quirky moments they capture—be it a mid-jump, an odd position, or a gaze that seems to pierce the very soul.