Tombili the much-loved cat from Istanbul has been given a send-off few people get. A life-size bronze statue of the chubby cat has been erected on the spot where she became famous.

Tombili in the pose that made her famous. Photos: Facebook

Tombili became an internet meme after she was photographed chilling out on this spot. Her fanpage on Facebook had more than 2000 likes; which was just purrfectly understandable to the myriad of local cat-lovers.

As a human resident of the Kudikoy district of Istanbul commented, “They should call this place Cat Village!”

Sculptor Seval Sahin recreated Tombili in bronze.

Tombili’s languid pose was recreated by the local sculptor Seval Şahin. On 4 October, World Animal Day, people gathered left offerings of catfood, flowers and beads at the statue. It was purrfectly understandable.