I intended to capture the cats’ dispositions, reflected in their eyes and facial expressions. Our abilities to perceive, be aware, and understand are inadequate to grasp how close emotionally animals are to us, especially the more highly developed animals we hold as pets. Not mentally, of course, but do they not experience, just as we do, intense joy, grief, resentment, hatred, love, anger, fear, jealousy, shyness, affection, pleasure, envy, trust, sadness, courage, patience, impatience, boredom, interest, attention, surprise, and other emotional nuances? These moods and emotions, which I have witnessed over more than 50 years living with cats, prompted me to grab the camera and use it at the right moment.

 

Most of my cats are Golden Persian. I love their look – with the beautiful mane and worm yellow color they appear to me as miniature lions.