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In the photo bookLa Grand Odysée des Chats(The Cats' Journey), a book by the photographer couple first published in 2018, features images of cats filling its pages. They come from all over, engaging in a variety of activities, from basking in the sun beside the distinctive blue buildings of Chefchaouen in Morocco, playing in ancient ruins in Greece, to patiently waiting for scraps of fish at a Japanese fish market.
"What are you looking at? Are you taking a picture of me?"
For Tuul, photographing cats is just as enjoyable as photographing people. She says, "Bruno and I love taking spontaneous photos of everyday life on the streets."
The two photographers shared that before approaching the cats, they would try to capture the most natural and authentic moments of the subjects in the photo (both people and animals). Only then would they tell the people in the photo how they were photographed, and they would only interact with and pet the cats if the cats (seemed) to agree.
A cat peeks from behind a wall in the city of Chefchaouen, northern Morocco. According to legend, it was the Jews who bought the land here and painted the entire city blue after escaping a Spanish persecution in 1492.
"Hey, what's that up there, guys!?"
It's not uncommon to see cats roaming freely in every corner and street of Chefchaouen.
They even "sleep regardless" on the streets, ignoring the people passing by.
From their experiences, the two photographers noticed that stray cats in different cities share similarities in behavior, but some are more timid than others. Abandoned stray cats tend to be less friendly when encountering humans, but stray, ownerless cats are more sociable.
"In Japan, most of the stray cats we've encountered haven't shown any shyness around humans at all," Tuul said. "Perhaps they know that humans are kind, or they have a good impression of the people who fed them before."
In Japan, stray cats have always had "particularly close" relationships with fishermen.
There are many "cat islands" scattered across the Sea of Japan. The cats there are said to be very tame and not afraid to interact with humans.
Japan is a country that greatly impressed Tuul and Bruno with its cat culture. Tuul and Bruno recounted that cats are considered symbols of good luck in Japan: “They even have temples dedicated to worshipping them.” Cats are also a major tourist attraction in Japan, with the country boasting 11 cat islands.
In Tokyo, there are several temples dedicated to cats. In these areas, visitors can find stone cat statues and real cats side by side.
"Among all those fake cats, I still stand out the most."
The photographer couple shared their perspective, noting that people's perceptions and attitudes towards stray cats are heavily influenced by local culture, religion, history, and legends. Many believe that long ago, the Prophet Muhammad preached while cradling his beloved cat, Muezza, on his lap. Upon discovering Muezza asleep, he even cut off a side of his robe so as not to disturb her sleep. "In most Muslim countries like Morocco and Turkey, they have a special relationship with cats because their Prophet loved these creatures," Tuul explained.
This photo was taken in Ephesus, an ancient Roman port city in present-day Türkiye. The cat is playing in an abandoned archaeological site that is over 2,000 years old.
Another cat was lying on the ruins, stretching out in the sunlight.
However, not everyone likes feral cats. The majority of feral cats are considered a threat to local wildlife and a source of disease transmission. In 2013, a study published in Nature Communications estimated that feral cats (indirectly) killed 1.3 to 4 billion birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion mammals annually in the US. However, this study was immediately questioned by the public due to a lack of conclusive evidence, and the near impossibility of estimating such figures accurately.
A kitten sits in the old town of Lamu, the oldest Swahili settlement in Kenya, East Africa, and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The cats on Lamu Island typically have narrower faces and longer legs.
An estimated 10,000 cats are found across all four main islands of the Lamu archipelago. Feral cats are an integral part of the indigenous culture. In addition to the dense feral cat population, Lamu is also home to thousands of donkeys.
Despite debates about the benefits and influence of cats, most people around the world don't see any problem with these animals. On the island of Lamu, street cats are a part of their cultural history. In Greece, cats are protected by law, given the right to live. In the photographs taken by the photography couple, one can see people casually ignoring these creatures or actively petting and holding them. The couple shared: "For them, cats are just a part of everyday street life."
The cats fought each other nonchalantly, and nobody seemed to care.
"Take a short break, and don't disturb me!"
