In pictures: Cats of Petra
The landscape around Petra might look dry and barren, but there’s a surprising amount of animal life if you look carefully – both the wild and not-so-wild. Among the rocks along the Siq we came across a ginger cat and her kittens. Then from there we kept spotting them – a long-haired tabby in one of the tombs in the Street of Facades, a ginger and white kitten in front of the Treasury, and a tabby on the steps up to the Monastery. They were all super affectionate, purring and climbing on my lap when I bent down to take a photo – all put to good use in the art of parting tourists from titbits from their packed lunches.
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Cats are always good for a photo. i did hear somewhere that the markings on a tabby are the traces of the prophet’s fingers, I don’t know if there is any basis for that legend, but perhaps it explains why the cats are so mega friendly
They were a bit of a nightmare to photograph as they kept climbing all over me! Hadn’t heard that story before, but tabbies have always been my favourites.
I always miss my cats when I travel and look forward to the cats on the road – especially the friendly ones that come over to play! Nice shots.
Until this year I’ve always been in rented places so had to go borrow my sister’s or parent’s cats but hope to get my own soon at last!
Cute indeed!
Thought I’d have a break from rock temples and go for kittens instead for a bit of Petra variety!
You really captured them beautifully!
Thanks, though you should’ve seen the number of blurred attempts I had to delete when they wouldn’t stay still!
A lovely series. I love Ship’s Cook’s comment
Thanks, I was going to attempt to take more portraits this year but it seems I didn’t get quite as far as doing people yet!
I’m more of a dog lover myself – were there stray dogs out there too?
There were a few, but not as many as cats – though there were more donkeys and camels than anything!
Pretty kittens! I am a big time animal lover and this cats seem so cute and affectionate! Thanks for sharing them!
They were so friendly – I’ve seen a lot of cats in places like Turkey and Greece but these were definitely the most affectionate.
Adorable little things aren’t they? As persistent as those touts
I have a photo of one that befriended me in Ephesus!
So persistent – but much more pleasant to be pestered by than the touts!
Great photos! This post just took me back to my visit to Greece and Turkey where stray cats were everywhere. Petra looks amazing!
Petra was fantastic, and the cats were a bonus too, I kept getting distracted from the temple sightseeing and playing with the kittens instead!