Forever Cats

cat

“Of all God’s creatures, there is only one that cannot be made slave of the leash. That one is the cat. If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve the man, but it would deteriorate the cat.”
― Mark Twain

I cannot disagree with the wise man.  Cats cannot be made slaves. Look at this face if you had any doubts.

cat

Look at this royal gesture.

cat

A warrior fighting invisible evil…

cat

“A silent guardian, a watchful protector”…

cat

He used to live a life of emperor and didn’t know what was coming …

cat

cat

cat

cat

… but he took it with dignity.

Another remarkable cat I had a pleasure to meet.

cat

Leo, the most patient and meek creature ever, a good-hearted friend of his humans and their young.

There are many kitties who are less fortunate, but you can see the aristocracy of blood showing through. This kitty was living in the streets and took the food offerings with grace and dignity.

cat

I met this kitty in Dingle Peninsula, driving around the Slea Head. He was sitting at the empty cottage and wouldn’t make any eye contact with the strangers ( otherwise he didn’t mind us, and was actually purring).

cat

This is another stray cat. The only difference is that he was living in Coliseum, Rome.

cat

There are many stray cats in Rome. Old people feed them. The world is a better place because of the caring old people.

This young fella is KC, a member of a family of  four cats all rescued by their human in different circumstances.

cat

These three kittens were taken to the vets and put down by a man whom I knew as a kind and caring son, father and husband. I knew he didn’t want the kittens and I asked him if I could take them and find them home, but he lied that he would do it himself… Three years ago we were reconnected at the deathbed of our friend. After we left the room he was trying to make an apology, mumbling something about a reconciliation. I told him he was fine. The following year I got a word that he had an accident at work, and he isn’t himself anymore since. God knows, I didn’t wish him anything like that.

I still keep the simple toys I had made for them.

cat

“The only escape from the miseries of life are music and cats…” 

― Albert Schweitzer

 Cat’s in the Cradle” is a 1974 folk rock song by Harry Chapin from the album Verities & Balderdash. It has nothing to do with cats. The song is about a man who never had time for his son.

The Cat’s cradle is a string game. You can read about it and many more old and forgotten games here.

Well, we had enough of sad things, let’s have a chuckle 🙂

svetlana-petrova-cat

This image belongs to a Russian artist Svetlana Petrova. Click on the link to see  Zarathustra the cat improving some famous artworks with his presence. When Svetlana’s mother died she was deeply depressed, and creating these images was a part of the healing process.

This cutie is Jonne. He had a big happy family – another two cats and a dog. They are all gone. When Jonne joined the family he was sick and weak because of neglect, and he was beaten too. It was long ago,  he lives  with his significant human now and they are inseparable.

cat

cat

Speaking of friendship.

“You know a real friend?
Someone you know will look after your cat after you are gone.” 
― William S. Burroughs, Last Words: The Final Journals

Thank you for reading! These pictures were taken over the years, and some of the cats must have crossed the Rainbow bridge since.

Could you share a few words about your Pet ( not necessarily a cat)?

Photography tip of the day: Taking pictures of your pets use natural light and come closer. The best time for a portrait ( close up) is when the pet has just woke up and is still sleepy. Show their personality in your pictures: You know all these faces and looks, capture them 🙂

www.inesemjphotography.comHave a great weekend!

69 comments

  2. I love cats also. And I like the “significant human” description. Thank you for recently visiting my humble blog. I have enjoyed exploring yours!~

  3. Hi there dear Inese,

    What a lovely and captivating post … I really enjoyed the reading all throughout… I am a huge fan of cats so I just can say> Awww… ❤

    I do believe that cats are really clever animals and that they have sort of intuitive sense to know when you feel down… For instance, my cat Misha totally gets me when I am feeling sad, I can guarantee you she knows it!.

    By the way I once wrote a post you might like.
    I will add the link for you here: http://wp.me/p60vo-2pk

    Best wishes my friend, happy sunday and weekend ahead to you,

    Aquileana 😀

  4. I love this article. I am a lifetime lover of cats. Their companionship has helped me through the worst of times. You have inspired me to perhaps post a few lovely pics I have taken of my kitty. Stop by my blog in a few days! Thanks again for your great post!

  5. Lovely cats Inese. I love to visit the Coliseum and Forum in Rome and see all the cats. We had five cats until a couple of years ago – all girls except for a ginger tom, each with their own personality. Many happy memories of our ‘bairns’.

    1. Thank you for stopping by, Andrea! It must be a Heaven to have five cats! Amazing that they have different personalities, and they also pick up a thing or two from their humans:)
      My best wishes!
      Inese

  9. I posted my comment twice- well tried to remember all I had said haha before my computer shut down on me…I just wanted to make sure I got a comment through to you lol- technology!

  10. Haha chuckle indeed nestled into Petrova’s lovely painting. I loved reading this collection of stories. You’ve captured these frisky little whiskered fellows wonderfully. The patterns in each cat’s fur is so unique, as is their personalities. I can remember living in Greece as a child, not having any pets, but had so many cat friends who would come visit my door for milk and food daily. The little kitty you have pictured at the Coliseum reminded me of my time in Rome. Locals would say the stray cats down at the ruins were descendants to Cleopatra’s cats from the time she spent in Rome. I always loved those tales, and this post took me back, as you always have a way of doing 🙂

  11. Haha a chuckle indeed perched up on Petrova’s beautiful painting! These collection of stories is heartwarming and full of love. You’ve done a wonderful job capturing these frisky little kitties. The personalities of cats are like no other. I can remember living in Athens, Greece as a young child, never having pets, but loving so many of the stray cats that would always come back to my door for milk and food I left them. They ran the town, that’s for sure. In Rome, I walked the streets with cats of all natures, and they were believed to be descendants of Cleopatra from her time in Rome. I just loved the tales. Your post took me back. You always have a way of doing that 🙂

    1. Thank you so much for your comment, Alisa! It was exactly the reason I took a picture of that Coliseum cat 🙂 I was following him to get him in a more creative composition, but he started getting suspicious, so I took this picture before he hid himself. I am sure he has some royal blood in him!

      I am so glad you find something for yourself in my posts:) It was the first time in 11 years that I shared the story of three kittens. I still cry remembering them, but I have never shared this story with anybody before, so I think I started to heal.

      Do you have a pet? If not I wish you to have one soon 🙂

      1. I do indeed have a dog, but she is no pug! A beautiful Shiba Inu Japanese dog named Dora. She looks like a red fox. Oh, and of course Goldie the fish haha. I really teared up reading the story of the three kittens. Heartbreaking, even for the man. Life has very dark shadows at times, and other…only light. Thanks for sharing.

        1. Oh I know these beautiful dogs, they look like foxes indeed. Goldie, of course 🙂
          I don’t have pets anymore. Too old, anything can happen, what then? I had a cat, ten years ago. Went for my holidays, and asked someone to look after. The cat run away and was never found. Since then I am not having pets.

          1. Oh my goodness! That is just not a story for anyone to have to endure. So sorry. What was your cat’s name? It is hard to get attached and then for something out of your hands to happen. If we lived in the same continent I would happily make a home for your animal should they need a second home. All animals should be loved!

            1. Thank you for your kind words Alisa. Pizza was his name… No one told me before I came home… I didn’t post his picture here. It happened a year after the kitten tragedy, it was too much.

  14. Pingback: A Response in Cats | Whaddya Mean Rosebuds?

  18. Marvellous images that do so much justice to cats. Wonderful creatures. The spotted one on the chair that looks a bit like an Abyssinian breed is magnificent.

  19. Sweet tribute to the cats! Although I am more a dog person, I found ” “most” pets are adorable 🙂 – About my dog, Dante, sometimes we thought he is too “independent” that makes him more as a cat than a dog 😀

    1. Thank you for this comment, Indah! I know a good few dogs like your Dante 🙂 I think it is more fun to have an independent pet, what do you think? 🙂

Comments are closed.