An Imam in Istanbul has opened up his mosque as a warm home to the city's stray cats

Mustafa Efe is the Imam at Aziz Mahmud Hüdayi Mosque in Istanbul's historic Üsküdar neighbourhood.

Efe is well known in the city for his "good humour and diligence", the Daily Sabah reports - but a video Efe took of a mother cat taking her kittens from the street into the safety of the mosque has given his everyday acts of compassion a global audience.

Efe described the cats as "our mosque’s Friday guests", but he actually lets the city's many strays shelter in the building throughout the winter months.

He frequently shares photos and videos of the mosque's visitors on social media.

And the cats trying to make new friends.

Other people have started sharing pictures of the cats too.