When I was growing up with my siblings and cousins, two sandy-haired dogs were always in our yard. I grew up in what was then considered the “country,” outside the town of Macon, Ga., so the dogs and us had plenty of room to roam about and play.
My cousins would pet the dogs, but me, I stayed away from them. You see, I’m not a dog person or a cat person. Even now, I don’t have pets in my house. I know that people love their pets and consider them members of the family. But that’s not me.
Until I came across a cat at one of my auction houses. No, it wasn’t a real cat. It was the most adorable little ceramic cat I had ever seen. It’s actually a bank, with a slot on the back of its head for coins and a rubber stopper on the bottom covering the opening. He’s not a big animal; he’s only about 7 1/2″ long, with a head that looks a little oversized.
And he works perfectly for me: I don’t have to feed him or let him outside for walks or have him climb all over me. This kind of cat I can live with.
He is just so sweet. Even as a ceramic piece, he has a softness characterized by the blue bow around his neck, the bouquet of flowers in his hands and what looks like a smile on his face. He looks ready to be cuddled and loved. I never thought I’d wax so poetic about a kitty cat. I’m not ready to join the organization of Cat Collectors yet, but I understand.
The cat has a label on the bottom that says it was made and handpainted for Saks Fifth Avenue in Italy. It also has Made in Italy printed in capital letters nearby.
He’s one of my most favorite pieces. Isn’t he cute?
