A wonderfully executed commission from the amazing and highly esteemed artist  astarcis
The style and overall execution are simply wonderful.

~ooo~

Posting this picture fills me with a touch of melancholy...

When I commissioned the image over a month ago, the idea came from videos I saw of horses and cats – but also as a small tribute to a orange tomcat who came to us as a stray a few years ago and has been showing up every day since then to eat, sleep and cuddle.

We always had cats... and almost all of them lived to be 20 years old. When the last cat died of old age in 2020, the house felt emptier.

So it seemed like a sign of fate when, months later in late summer, a young orange tomcat appeared on our terrace. At first he was shy and uncertain, but after we fed him a few times, he became more and more trusting, until eventually he sat outside the door every morning and evening, meowing to be let in.
For my parents, both over 80, whom I care for here, this cat was an emotional support... someone they could take care of again. And especially in winter, he often stayed at home for days on end.

He hasn't been seen for a week... longer than ever before.
Posters, appeals on local social media groups, long searches of the usual places where he was last seen and enquiries at vets, etc. have all been fruitless.
So many reasons go through your mind... and the uncertainty is worse than bad news. But with each passing day, hope fades.

I'm sorry to have to associate this beautiful picture with such a depressing story, but as much as the picture was intended as a cheerful tribute to a cat who brought joy into our lives, it now feels like a retrospective 'thank you'

So all I can do is say: ‘Wherever you are, I hope you're well, my friend' <3

~ooo~

Update 2025-05-21: I'm very happy to report that my cat returned last night after being missing for six weeks!