We spoke with Akbar and asked him about the inspiration behind capturing these monochrome cat portraits. The photographer shared, 'Every photographer chooses a subject according to their mood. In the past few years, due to my interest in animals, I’ve focused on urban animals, especially cats.”

The photographer highlights in his Instagram bio that all of his pictures are taken using a smartphone camera. As for why Mehrinezhad chooses this compact device over professional camera gear, he explained that using an “iPhone makes it easy” for him to capture the desired shots efficiently.

Next, Akbar shared that many of his followers are inspired by his style and creativity in capturing portraits of cats. The photographer mentioned that people often tag him in their social media posts, showcasing their encounters with stray cats living on the streets.

Finally, we asked Mehrinezhad for advice for aspiring photographers who want to document the lives of stray animals as he does. He emphasized that there is one key principle all cat enthusiasts should follow: “They should approach animals with love and affection.”