Tombili (Turkish for chubby) (birthplace and date unknown, died August 1, 2016) was a street cat from Istanbul. He was internationally known because of a photograph that shows him reclining on the sidewalk. The city of Istanbul honored Tombili after his death with a statue.
Tombili (a common Turkish nickname for a chubby pet) was a street cat who lived in Ziverbey in the Kadñköy district of Istanbul. Media reports state Tombili's sex as male; however, that is disputed. Tombili became popular with residents of the neighborhood for his friendliness and his way of leaning against steps. As a result of a photo of this pose, the cat became known worldwide in social networks and became an internet phenomenon. In the district of Kadñköy, he gained cult status. In 2016, Tombili was diagnosed with kidney failure and eventually died in early August.
After his death, a petition to honor his memory received 17,000 signatures and Kadñköy Mayor Aykurt NuhoÃÂlu agreed to officially commemorate his life. A local sculptor, Seval à Âahin, made a sculpture recreating the pose which had gained him fame, and was inaugurated for World Wildlife Day on October 4, 2016. Hundreds of people came to pay their respects, and Kadñköy deputy mayor Baà Âar NecipoÃÂlu spoke at the event, which was aired on Turkish TV.
A month later, the sculpture went missing. A photo shared on social media showed the statue missing from its place, leaving behind only the sculpture's brass plaque. Kadñköy Municipality announced on November 8, 2016, that the statue had been stolen, prompting outcry and concern both in Turkey and elsewhere. "They stole the Tombili statue. They are enemies of everything beautiful. All they know is hate, tears and war," Turkish MP Tuncay ÃÂzkan was quoted as saying in translation. However, on November 10, 2016, the statue was safely returned.