What's the Story Behind my Cat People Series?

My Cat People paintings are a vehicle to express the emotional life and its frailties that humans and sentient creatures experience.  The longing to belong, to be accepted for one’s true self, to dream, to wonder, to be loved, to feel safe.

I’ve lived with cats all my adult life. It is a myth that cats are aloof and unaffectionate. As soon as I sit down, a cat is on my lap, and at night, in bed to cuddle. I can’t imagine life without cats, they are one of life’s true pleasures. This is a secret known only by people who have experienced a close relationship with a cat. 

Our rural Ontario property must seem very inviting to feral and stray cats because over the 35 years we’ve lived there, a steady stream of cats have appeared on our back deck.  I guess they felt welcome due to the heated water dish - and heated doghouse we keep outside in winter in case anyone needs it.

Who can turn away a hungry homeless cat that appears tentatively at your back door?

Secret #2:  Feral cats, once tamed, become the MOST affectionate and devoted of cats. And surprisingly, once a cat has lived the rough life outdoors, they are more than content to live indoors and not venture back outside.  None of our cats, all formerly homeless feral cats, ever go to a door and meow to go outside.

So, it’s not surprising to me that cats appear in my paintings as cat people because I do see them as more than mere cats.  Interspecies relationships are a wonder and a marvelous thing,  and if you’re lucky enough to love and receive the love of a cat, or better yet a number of cats, then you know what I mean!

Two of our cats, both who turned up at our property in different years and become best buddies indoors.