Not-so-cute cats (mostly).
Do not fear, there are no dead cats in this post, but perhaps rat-owners might be advised to look away and to skip this one. Continuing with my little series of cat mezzotint prints, I felt it was important that I didn’t end up with a series entirely comprising nice cute cat pictures. Cats are lovely, but lets have the Compleat Cat. Therefore, I thought at the very least there should be the classic cat-washing-bum pose, and at lease one dead rat.
We have chickens and where they live has become so badly undermined with rats we need to move them next year, so, much as I like rats as animals principle, in practice I am pleased that at least one of our cats occasionally does his job. These sketches are not from life however: I thought I would spare you the sight of Arthur’s occasional anatomy demonstrations. What I am looking for is a cat-and-dead-rat ensemble that will not send people screaming; I am still in the business of making attractive art.
So, here are some sketches so far. The Cat Washing Bottom picture is further advanced and I shall show you that one once I have printed it tomorrow. I have to admit there is still some cuteness going on in these sketches, but the final picture will be a mezzotint, which is a technique that can be relied upon to give everything that sinister edge. I will settle for cute and sinister.
Art by Nancy Farmer 
We have 5 cats and the mice are still a problem, because the mice hid where the cats can’t get them. Fortunately we only have mice, no rats. Love the sketches.
Do you have any ginger cats? they always seem the best at rats!
And thanks, glad you like them 🙂
Sketch 5 is especially wonderful–the curves and the cat’s eye, and the way the cat is keeping his precious rat closely guarded. We have a young ginger cat who feasted on lizards the whole summer long. He gulped them down whole and never seemed to suffer any after effects.
Thank you! Yes I think I like 5 best, though there’s another couple I might consider using as well if I have time. Poor lizards, I rather like them, but if there’s no rats I suppose a cat’s got to hunt something! You generally never see lizards here so I get excited when I see even one in a warmer country.
I like lizards, too. This is the first time I’ve had a garden with lizards and it’s a real treat. As you say, though, a cat’s got to hunt something. Sometimes, I save the lizards if they’re not too far gone and hide them in a lavender bush.
Sparta approves!
🙂