Man in Turkey agrees to pay alimony and support two cats after divorce

An unusual divorce agreement was reached in Istanbul, under which a man agreed to provide for the care of two shared cats. As part of the divorce proceedings, Bugra B. consented to pay his ex-wife, Ezgi B., 10,000 Turkish liras every three months for the upkeep of the animals that remained with her. The agreement is valid until 2035 and includes annual adjustments for inflation.

In addition, Bugra B. will pay his ex-wife a lump-sum compensation of 550,000 Turkish liras. After that, there will be no other financial obligations between the parties.

Such cases are extremely rare since, under the Turkish Civil Code, pets are still considered movable property. However, in recent years, Turkish courts have increasingly included pet care as part of divorce settlements. Law No. 5199 “On the Protection of Animals” provides a legal basis for such decisions.

Experts note that this case reflects the growing social awareness of animal rights and their role in family relationships. Such agreements change the traditional approach to divorce, including not only property and alimony issues but also care for pets.

The lawyer’s representative emphasized that the agreement was voluntary and reflected the former spouses’ emotional attachment to the animals. Ezgi B.’s side declined to comment.

Lawyers believe this case could become an important precedent for future divorces in Turkey, where pet care may be treated as a separate obligation ensuring animal welfare rather than part of property division.