Balıklıgöl in Şanlıurfa is not just a historic landmark. It is a shared living space, one shaped by daily routines, community care, and the animals who belong there. For years, the street cats of Balıklıgöl have been part of that life: recognised by locals, fed by regular carers, and seen every day in the same familiar spots.
Recently, cats living around Balıklıgöl were taken away with the explanation that this was done for treatment purposes. On its own, veterinary care for unwell animals is not controversial. Street animals get sick, and intervention can be necessary.
But what has followed is the real issue.
As yet the cats have not been returned & people are naturally worried
What People Are Seeing and Not Seeing
This concern does not come from speculation or online panic. It comes from observation.
People who are at Balıklıgöl every day caretakers, shopkeepers, residents, and regular visitors report that the cats who were taken are no longer there. Their usual resting places are empty. The familiar faces have not reappeared. The absence is obvious precisely because these cats were so well known.
As things stand:
The cats removed from Balıklıgöl have not visibly returned
There has been no on-site indication of their re-release
The community has seen absence, not reassurance
In situations involving community animals, visibility matters. Presence is proof.
Why Treatment Must Include Return
Temporary medical care is commendable.
Permanent removal is not.
For community cats, taking animals away without bringing them back means:
Breaking established territories
Cutting animals off from known carers
Increasing the risk of displacement or disappearance
Undermining public trust
If an action is described as temporary, its conclusion must be just as clear as its beginning. Otherwise, it stops being care and starts feeling like quiet removal.
This Is About Outcomes, Not Intentions
This is not about guessing motives or assigning blame.
It is about outcomes that can be seen.
Whatever the reason given for collecting the cats, the reality remains unchanged: they are gone, and they have not returned.
In a time when street animals across Turkey are already vulnerable, people do not need reassurances they need to see animals safely back where they belong.
Why Balıklıgöl Matters
Balıklıgöl is a place watched by thousands of eyes every day. What happens there carries weight beyond its borders. When animals disappear from such a visible, symbolic space without a clear and observable return, it sends a worrying message.
Care that cannot be seen does not reassure.
Return is what builds trust.
A Simple, Reasonable Expectation
No one is arguing against veterinary treatment. This is an act of commendable humanity
The expectation is straightforward:
If the cats were taken to heal, bring them back.
Let the community see them return. Restore what was taken.
Until that happens, concern is not overreaction it is the natural response of people noticing that the animals they care for are missing.
Care should end where it began.
Disclaimer: This article reflects observations as of the time of writing. No public or visible confirmation of the cats’ return has been observed. The article makes no allegations of intent or misconduct.