Pets are cute for sure! And Turkey has a reputation for being friendly to animals. Istanbul is home to tons of stray cats and dogs! there is even a type of cat named after one of the cities in Turkey, the Van cat. There are even beauty pageants held in Turkey for cats. A country this friendly to animals, of course you can take your pet with you on public transportation, right? Well, yes and no.

You moved to Turkey, you looked up how to take your pet to Turkey with you and now you are living your dream. You want to use the public transportation to escape heavy traffic but wait, you have your pet with you! what to do?

Well, depending on where you live, you can take your pet with you on public transportation in Turkey. Istanbul now allows pets on public transportation.

What are the requirements for taking your pet with you on public transportation in Turkey?
You can not take your pet with you on public transportation any way you like. while cute to you, and I'm sure they don't bite, they might get spooked by the crowd and the noise, and before you know it, your cutie is being put down cause it mauled a child or two. I'm looking at you "responsible" dog owners 🙄!

So here are the rules you have to follow to have your pet with you on public transit:

Guide dogs and dogs, cats and birds weighing less than 5 kilograms (11 pounds) will be free to ride the metro, buses and ferries throughout the day, while larger animals will be allowed to ride the mass transportation vehicles between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Dogs will be allowed to travel only with a leash and muzzles, while cats will be allowed in their special cages, like birds.

Please be responsible and don't ruin this for others. thanks