Tunisia’s cats are predominantly feral with a very small percentage adopted as indoor pets. Although Tunisian street cats live in close proximity to humans, they approach only when food is presented and shy away from being petted or handled. With their svelte frames and quick reflexes, these Mediterranean cats mislead the casual onlooker into believing that they are malnourished. Their thin bodies perhaps a nod to their elegant Egyptian ancestors, are likely a product of an active battle for survival in a hot climate.

It became apparent early on that my camera’s 10x zoom was woefully underpowered for the task; Tunisian cats are a skittish bunch with an uncanny ability to vanish at lightning speed. Although this may be a desirable trait from a feline perspective for dealing with potential threats such as dogs, it proved to be an unnerving challenge to me, especially without the advantage of a telephoto lens allowing for close-up shots from a respectable distance.

It seems that Tunisian cats have an invisible perimeter marking their personal space which I was unable to penetrate without causing my cantankerous subjects to go into fire drill mode. After a few failed attempts to approach close enough for a good photo, I noticed that the cats I was attempting to photograph almost uniformly seemed more at ease if I did not look directly at them, approaching as if I am simply walking by instead of towards them. I would then pivot once close enough and snap a few photos before they become aware of my unwelcome attention.

Another obstacle was locating my pointy-eared subjects, preferably positioned against an interesting backdrop.  After a few missed opportunities, where the cat was perfectly in place but I did not have my camera, I was able to identify a few strategic gathering spots to check on periodically in the hope of getting a good shot. It seemed that Tunisian cats are quick to identify friendly human dwellings that are generous with food; in turn, I was quick to find the home of a crazy cat lady in my childhood neighborhood in Nabeul and capture a few nice shots although not quite with the Hans Sylvester style Mediterranean backdrops I was seeking. 

Alley Cats

A trip to downtown Nabeul presented some additional opportunities for good pictures. Confined by  narrow  alleys, the cats in this environment were a bit less skittish and had a tighter space to maneuver in. I was able to capture a few prized shots of a mother and her three kittens attempting to enter one of the old Arab homes in the alley.

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Related Links:
Tunisia Photo Gallery
Tunisian Cat Pics by Corrina
A Cat Cabal in Tunisia