The story of the Baris cat

From Syria to Istanbul: the story of the Baris cat

From the war in Syria to the peace of a bookshop in Istanbul the story at the happy end of cat Baris

Have you ever imagined entering a bookshop where a cat is an absolute and undisputed protagonist? No? Well then you have to read this tender and moving story, that of the red cat Baris!

Baris, which in Turkish means "peace", is a lovely red and white kitten with long hair; he was found by Sergeant Ömer Özkan, who participated in the Turkish military operation "Euphrates shield" conducted in recent months by the Ankara army. The kitty was wandering through the ruins of the Syrian city of al-Bab, the scene of some bloody clashes.

The soldier snatched him from the horrors of the war that is raging in the region and took him to the animal collection centre in Gaziantep in southern Turkey so that he could be adopted.

The first to come forward was the owners of the Istanbul bookshop "Kirmizi Kedi", which means a red cat. Now the tender Baris has found a new house in the books and shelves, where we hope he can forget the bad experiences.

Baris is now the most beloved and precious member of our staff,"said Haluk, the owner of the bookshop," and we have to make sure that he is well in his new home. The fact that this red cat is now at the "Kirmizi Kedi" bookshop is the right conclusion to this story. Just as he came from Syria to find some peace, so I hope that peace will soon reign in those lands and in the Middle East.

Istanbul, the city of cats, curiosities and legends

In every corner of beautiful Istanbul there are cats: in the mosques, on the banks of the Bosphorus, in the workshops of the artisans and now also in the bookstores!

There is an ancient legend that hovers around Turkey; the Turks believe that there are some cats with particular powers, called "cats of desire". These cats would have the power to make the wishes that are whispered in their ears by the people they love most come true. We do not struggle to think that Baris is part of the cats of desire ... we want to whisper in his ear something that we care about: "Good little life".