MAN AGREES TO PAY "CAT SUPPORT" FOR UP TO 10 YEARS AFTER DIVORCE

Matt Case - October 27th, 20205 

ISTANBUL  — In a legal first that’s purring up headlines across Turkey, a man in Istanbul has agreed to pay “cat support” as part of his divorce settlement.

Buğra B. and his ex-wife, Ezgi B., filed for divorce citing severe marital problems but skipped the usual battles over money or property. Instead, they settled on an unusual clause involving their two cats.

Under the agreement, the husband granted full custody of the pets to his ex-wife and will pay roughly $240 every three months for up to 10 years to cover food and care — with payments adjusted annually to match Turkey’s consumer price index.

Legal experts say the case marks a new kind of support payment in Turkey — one that could set precedent for future divorces involving pets.

While the couple’s marriage may not have lasted, their commitment to responsible pet parenting might just redefine what “dependents” mean in the modern world.