For the full beauty of this image and quote, click photo to enlarge

I love how the perception of cats remains constant in time as reflected in this quote by Jules Champfleury, a French art critic and novelist who was born in 1820. I for one could watch a napping cat for hours, completely mesmerized by the simple beauty of the act. My cats, of course, are only too happy to indulge me in that capacity as witnessed by my sweet little Mia who models with absolutely perfect beatitude.

Jules François Felix Fleury-Husson (1820 Laon, Aisne – 1889 Sèvres), who wrote under the name Champfleury, was a French art critic, novelist, and a prominent supporter of the Realist movement in painting and fiction. His novels were among the earliest Realist works and in 1870 his book, Les Chats, a series of essays about cats including portrayals of cats by prominent artists of the time, was published by Librarie de la Societe Botanique de France. (Wikipedia)

Any one who loves cats, knows just how true this quote by Jenny de Vries is, and it needs little explanation. One look at Rolz, Mia, and Peanut, and it would appear to be one and the same cat at quick glance. However, Rolz and his sisters could not be any more different in personality, almost as if they were born of different parents on different dates.

Most amazingly, however, is that once you think you have each individual cat figured out, they will change like the wind, with no ryhme or reason whatsover. That is the beauty of a cat – they just are what they are and there is no room for debate.

I wish I could properly credit the author of this well-shared quote, but I cannot seem to find a spec of evidence to give proper homage to her words. If anyone has any insight, please feel free to share!

One look at Zoey is all it takes – there are simply no further words needed to do justice to this quote by the late author, Georgina Stickland Gates.

Dr.Georgina Stickland Gates (1896 – 1981) was born in Brooklyn, New York and received a Ph.D. degree from Columbia University in 1919. She was an assistant professor at Barnard, retiring in 1934. Her book, “The Modern Cat: Her Mind and Manners,” was published by Macmillan in 1928.  Source: The New York Times.

It is of note as well, that the spelling of her last name remains somewhat inconsistent in the usage of this very popular cat quote. I have seen it spelled “Strickland” with an “r” as well as “Stickland” without the “r.” Her obituary is spelled without the “r” as well as her listing in The Cat Fanciers’ Association Foundation library. If anyone has an actual copy of this book, I would be very interested in how her name is spelled in print as the author.

This photo of Peanut is so glorious and hypnotizing that you cannot help but be mesmerized and transfixed to a time and place so deep, it is difficult to question the concept of a soul as French poet, Théophile Gautier suggests.  Please click photo to enlarge.

 Jules Théophile Gautier (August 30, 1811 – October 23, 1872) was a French poet, dramatist, novelist, journalist, art critic and literary critic. (Wikipedia) 

I always enjoy quotes about cats and thought it would be interesting to apply them to images of my own cats. Dan has taken such a stunning collection of photos throughout the years that I felt this would be an enjoyable and unique way to share them with you in the months to come. In the first of the series, this photo of Zoey exquisitely captures the essence of both motion and stillness in the quote by George F. Will in which he compares the cat to a graceful vase. Read more