Turkish Trend: Cat Child Support (5 photos)

In Turkey, like in China, the "pet economy" is booming. In 2023, the pet population in Turkey reached 20.9 million. Compared to just a few million in 2020, the number of pets in households has increased dramatically!





10,000 per cat, that's quite a lot.

Of course, it's primarily cats; Turkey is a very feline country. And in a striking case that made headlines worldwide, a Turkish man from Istanbul named Butra agreed to pay his ex-wife Ezgi 10,000 lira in "alimony" every three months as part of their divorce settlement. However, this money isn't for their children (the couple doesn't have any), but for their two cats. The couple decided to divorce after two years of marriage due to serious relationship problems. The divorce agreement stipulates that the couple will care for the pair of cats for life—or, more precisely, for the next 10 years. The money is to be used for food, vaccinations, and veterinary care for the cats.



Have you noticed that the faces of cats in Turkey are different from those in Japan?

The payments, calculated based on the average lifespan of a cat, which is 15 years, will be adjusted annually for inflation and will terminate early upon the pet's death. This indicates a new trend in divorce rates. Although the court says this isn't legally considered alimony, everyone has already dubbed it "cat alimony."

Cat alimony is nothing new in Turkey.





What a hyper-responsible attitude towards cats.

Turkish lawyer Aylin Esra Eren explained that pet owners in Turkey typically microchip their pets, which means the registered person becomes the pet's legal guardian. Even if the owners separate, it's still necessary to ensure the health and care of the animals. This means the microchip is yours, even if the cat doesn't live with you. Turkey's Animal Welfare Law considers pets "living creatures" and not "property." This means that abandoning a pet is considered both animal cruelty and a misdemeanor. Simply abandoning microchipped pets is illegal. If you take one, you're responsible.



These are all unmicrochipped cats, free! Take them as much as you want.

In Turkey, those who abandon pets face a fine of up to 60,000 lira. So, stories of someone paying for the care of their pet upon separation are quite common. The recent case was the first where such a decision was made in court. Apparently, there will soon be more malicious cat support evaders. And those who complain, "If I don't see the cat, then I don't pay him," and so on, like those who evade regular alimony payments.



Let's have Kramer vs. Kramer, Turkish style, WITH THE CAT