Stunning Portraits Of Renowned Artists Posing With Their Cats

When considering the “artistic type,” many of them could be described as non-conformist, impulsive, or even shy. It is no surprise then that the typically aloof domestic cat makes the perfect pet for creative individuals. Cats have inspired lots of artists for centuries, serving as constant companions in artists’ studios.

Alison Nastasi’s book, Artists and Their Cats, features more than 50 legendary creatives and the stories behind their feline friendships. Among many iconic artists, Frida Kahlo, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol are all known to have had kitty accomplices.

Kahlo’s Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace (1940) has a black cat on her shoulder. Picasso even portrayed cats in his many of his paintings, such as Woman with Cat (1900) as well as Chat et homard (Cat and Lobster, 1965). Warhol had even published a book of cat drawings titled 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy.

Salvador Dali, the master of surrealism put the Colombian ocelot Babou (Baby) on the cover. The ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) is a species of wild cat discovered mostly in South as well as Central America. It looks a lot like a domestic cat, but also looks like a leopard or jaguar. It is said that Dalí got Babou around the 1960s and took him on a leash wherever he would go.

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