When Ebenezer Madugu visited Egypt in February 2026, he went to see pyramids and old castles. But he found something else too -the animals that live there.
THE CATS OF THE CITADEL
At the Citadel of Saladin in Cairo, cats are everywhere.
One striped cat sits by the old stone wall like a guard. Another calico cat walks up to tourists for food. A tortoiseshell cat waits patiently while children eat on a bench.
These cats aren’t scared. This is their home.
Long ago, Egyptians believed cats were special and brought good luck. Today, they still make the Citadel feel warm and alive.
Tourists don’t just take pictures of the walls. They take pictures of the cats too.
THE DOGS OF GIZA
At the Great Pyramid of Giza, it’s the dogs’ turn.
A cream-colored dog sleeps in the sun with the pyramids behind her. Other dogs walk around tourists, wagging tails and saying hello. Near a shop, four dogs rest and play while visitors watch.
The dogs look relaxed. The pyramids are 4,500 years old, but the dogs act like they’ve been there forever. And maybe they have.
In ancient Egypt, dogs were connected to Anubis, the god who protected people. Today, these dogs protect something different – the friendly, everyday feeling of the place.
WHY THEY MATTER
The cats and dogs of Egypt do 3 important things:
- They make history feel real. Stone is old. Animals are alive right now.
- They make tourists smile. People remember the cat or dog more than the ticket price.
- They show Egypt is home. Not just to tourists, but to the animals who live there too.
Ebenezer didn’t plan to photograph cats and dogs. But in Egypt, they are part of the story. The pyramids are big. The Citadel is old. But the cats and dogs?
They are the guardians that make you feel welcome.
All photos by ©LordKnowsMadugu
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com
