Tag: cat art

Okey the Parking Lot Kitty

Okey
Digital Art by BZTAT

The last thing I need is another cat.

I am honestly struggling to keep my studio open, as the rent and bills are getting tougher and tougher to meet. I already have 4 cats. And I am still trying to find a home for Percy and Andy.

But I couldn’t ignore Okey’s need.

I have seen glimpses of Okey for a couple of months now in varying places around downtown Canton. Each time I have seen him I have gotten the shivers, as there is a lot of traffic around here. It is not at all a safe place for a cat.

I discovered Okey’s “lair” on Sunday. He (I am calling him a he but I really am not sure) has taken up residence in a fenced in area around the air conditioning unit at a law firm behind my studio. He has made himself a bed out of newspapers and leaves underneath the AC.

He is very gaunt and emaciated. Some friends who are experienced at cat rescues are coaching me on how to gain his trust. We plan to “rescue” him this weekend and bring him inside the studio. We plan to get him to a vet and get some meat on his bones once he is able to meet the challenges. He is already gobbling down the noms I bring him twice a day.

I am not one to easily ask for money, but if I am going to get Okey properly cared for and ready for adoption, I will need help. If you would like to contribute to his care, you can donate through the Chip-in widget in the side-bar on the left. Please note that this is not a tax deductible donation. It is simply a goodwill gesture towards helping  Okey’s rescuers get him the care that he needs.

You can also purchase a print of the image of  Okey above through my Imagekind gallery, which will help me keep my studio in operation.

Prints are a less expensive way of purchasing artwork. Check out the other images in the gallery. You just might find some great holiday gifts!

I thank you for any support you can offer. I will keep you posted on Okey’s progress.

Percy the Wonder Cat

Percy
Digital Art by BZTAT

I have rescued a number of animals in my life. I don’t recall ever rescuing the same animal twice, though.

Unfortunately, I have that sad task before me today.

Fourteen years ago, I found Percy on the side of a country road while walking with a friend. It was not unusual to find abandoned pets on that road, as it was a popular dumping ground for unwanted animals.

Percy was unusual, though.

My friend and I watched as this small kitten hobbled along, putting every ounce of energy he had into each lurching step. We thought he was injured and instantly jumped to his aid.

Turns out that he was not injured. One of his legs was malformed, causing him to have a very unusual gait. Amazingly, it did not slow his enthusiasm, although his speed at walking was not great. He mewed at us with great gusto.

I knew that this little cat would never survive in the wild on his own, no matter how courageous and resilient he appeared to be. I scooped him up and called another friend who luckily was able to give him a loving home.

Fast forward fourteen years. Percy has lived in the same home all this time with a family of dogs, cats and people growing around him. Despite his challenged leg, he has had no health issues in all this time, and he has led a remarkably happy life.

Percy’s family has recently faced some struggles, however. I won’t go into the details, other than to say that they have been forced to make some changes, and they are no longer able to keep Percy. Please don’t judge them. They are good people. Sadly, we all face hard times. They have asked me to help them find him a home that will love him as much as they have.

Percy is in Canton, OH, and it would be preferable to find him a home close by. We realize, though, that he cannot go just anywhere, and are open to transporting him to a good home that is in the surrounding area. He is neutered, up to date on his shots and has no known health concerns. He does seem to have a little tenderness in his hindquarters, possible from his body compensating for his shortened front leg.

Percy gets along fine with other pets, as long as they would be gentle with him. If you know of someone who could offer Percy a loving home, please contact me ASAP so that we can explore the possibilities. Please share this with as many people as you can to get the word out.

I cannot leave him to the ways of the world now anymore than I could fourteen years ago.

Percy has a twelve year old adopted brother named Andy who also needs a home. He has a potential home identified, however, if someone could take both of them and keep them together, that would be the best scenario.

Some photos of Percy and Andy and a video follow.

Thank you for your help in giving this sweet boy a good life for the rest of his days.

UPDATE: Percy now has a Petfinder page. His brother Andy has a page too.

Pet portraits as gifts: The holidays are approaching…

Border Collie Portrait
Painting by BZTAT

People often tell me that they would like to give a pet portrait to a loved one for a holiday gift.

A portrait is, indeed, a special gift, as it commemorates a person’s special bond with their pet in a unique way.

Giving a pet lover a custom painted portrait of their pet, particularly if the pet is growing in age or has passed away, can be the greatest gift there is.

It does take some time for me to paint each portrait, usually somewhere between 15-20 hours. I generally have a few waiting to be painted, so there is usually an 8-10 week turn-around, sometimes longer. This means that Christmas gifts and other holiday gifts need to be ordered soon.

Painted pet portraits as gifts should be ordered by October 15 to ensure that they will be completed and shipped in time for Christmas.

You can read about the process of ordering a custom pet portrait here. If you have questions or would like to make an order, please contact me soon.

I look forward to painting your special pet!

Here are some examples of previously painted pets: