Before I met a cat, I was drawing everything but cats. The cats described below became my subjects, teachers, bosses, focal points in my life, and and are responsible for launching my career as a Cat Artist.

I owe it all to a cat. "The Kid" was the pear-shaped chocolate-point beauty who changed my life forever. She belonged to Michael, the man who is now my husband. (He says that his claim to fame is that he came with a cat!). When I met The Kid for the first time, I told her that I was a "dog person". Her response was to jump into my lap, square me up with those crossed baby blue eyes, settle in, and purr! My heart instantly melted! My life changed radically after meeting this dynamic pair! The Kid would go hiking with us, love to be the center of attention at parties, and go cruising with Michael in his red '73 Buick La Sabre. Even though she never had a litter of her own, The Kid played "Mom" and teacher to the next 3 cats who joined our family. It was The Kid who was my first "inspurration" and became the Founding Mother of our business. She was one of the most intelligent, sensitive beings I have ever known. She reached the ripe old age of 18 1/2.

"Gilda" came into my life about a year after I met Michael and The Kid. She was the only Siamese in a litter born to a black and white mom and a Siamese papa - her littermates were all kinds of other colors. Gilda had seal-point markings and azure blue, very crossed eyes. She was often mistaken for a Burmese or Tonkinese, with a body always in sculptural pose. The Kid and Gilda were insepar-able buddies - they groomed each other, slept cuddled together, and had a 9 year friendship. After The Kid died, Gilda never bonded with any of the other cats. she loved to hiss at her "brothers". She was a "mama's girl" with only limited tolerance for anyone else.

"Sonoma Jack" found us in 1985. Like his namesake Jack London, Our Jack was a charmer and an adventurer. He came to us as a kitten, purrfurring to spend his time with Michael than with anyone else in the neighborhood. While watching him grow into an orange long-haired sweetie with long tufts of hair on his ears and between his toes, he started behaving in ways unusual to us: He was comfortable sleeping in the most peculiar positions! As he grew bigger - and longer-, his voice seemed to become littler. He'd shed his coat in the summer and become a short- hair cat during those months. It would grow back fuller and more lion-like every fall. And he greeted us by standing on his hind legs and hugging our knees. We'd never experienced this kind of behavior with our other cats! We later learned that all these characteristics fit a breed of cat known as a "Maine Coon" . He loved being outside, especially down by the creek with the deer.

"Picasso" joined the group a year later. He came to us as a kitten, recued from a hot and crowded art show by a friend and collector who placed foundling felines and unwanted cats into good homes. She happened to be in our booth at the time of the rescue, and when she left, this black and white patched kitten had a home! He has always been a happy cat, always purring (earning him the name "Purr-casso"), wanting to be everyone's friend, and to be with us. As a kitten, he played fetch. He always came when he was called, and scratched at the door to come in or go out. Food has always been his #1 passion (earning his nickname "Pig-casso"), and then his second was to greet each and every person or critter that came near our house. He's our "Dog in a Cat Suit", friendly, good-natured, and loyal. He has assumed the role of parent to all the cats who have come into our family since.

In 1989, while Michael and I were doing an art festival in Pennsylvania, two kittens were dumped in the Sonoma Valley countryside. They found their way to our place and decided to call it home. "Dylan" was a green-eyed, long-haired silver tabby with white chin, tummy, and mitts. He amused himself by walking in our garden, singing, but so off-key that we couldn't stifle our laughter! He would run into the house, plop himself on a lap, turn over to get his belly rubbed, purring madly all the while. He prided himself on his hunting skills.

His brother was "Jesse James (Theif of Hearts)". A red lynx-point Siamese who looked as though he was a dancer walking in toe-shoes, Jesse was apprehensive and extremely skittish for the first years of his life. He was also extremely bright. He could decipher words we would only spell, like "bath" and "vet", and in his spare time, worked on turning doorknobs with his paws while standing on his hind legs. Michael brought him around with his certain brand of "cat therapy", and Jesse be- came more relaxed and people friendly. He took an extremely active role in the upbringing of our next two kittens...

In February, 1996, our friend's Siamese cat had a litter of 6 kittens. We had signed up for two, hoping at least one would be a Siamese. As luck would have it, the litter was composed of 6 tortoise-shell females and one little black male. At 3 1/2 weeks old, they were the youngest cats I had ever seen, and I immediately fell in love! I put reservations in for the male and the tortie with the half black, half brown and orange face; the one with the orange cowlick and the gold stars around her eyes. They were weaned and ready to come home at 5 1/2 weeks. The minute Michael held the little tortie, he coo-ed "Shayna Punim!" (This is Yiddish for "pretty face" and is what every Jewish grandmother says to new babies.) Thus, she was named. (Just for the record, Michael is neither Jewish, or a grand-mother...)

"Shayna" has developed into a sweet, headstrong, and very smart girl! She has taught me a language (dubbed "Squeakamese") of high pitched chirps, squeaks, and trills with which we discuss all the things best girlfriends talk about! She has grown into a lovely muscular, compact, football-shaped girl who sports a flamejob any hot-rodder would love to have! Among her official duties are Box Inspector and Office Manager.

Her brother "Java Bean" is a very mellow and sweet soul. Purring is his favorite hobby. especially in the mornings, cuddled under the covers with Michael (...or is that Michael purring?). Java loves to kiss noses, and will lick hands as long as a person can stand that soft but raspy tongue! He has grown into a sleek panther with big golden eyes. Sunlight shows him to be espresso brown with wide, black striping. He prides himself as a great and enthusiastic hunter.