Shimsi is a cat from Istanbul, Turkey. Like many other street cats, he was born wild to a family of felines that were cared for as “community cats” — no one “owns” them, per se, but individuals in the neighbourhood routinely feed and care for them. Community cats are a fascinating example of wild animals (the cats) living in cooperation with humans. In ethological language, they are commensal not domestic.

Shimsi was born below the window sill of my good friend Andy while he was studying in Turkey. A special bond arose between Andy and Shimsi, and when Andy returned to the States, he brought Shimsi with him. He was still a big kitten when I first met him, and has been a world of trouble and love ever since.

Andy is a professor now, and Shimsi visits with Delilah and I every summer that Andy returns for fieldwork in Turkey.

This is a photo of he and Delilah from the summer. Delilah adores him, but I am not too jealous.