The mission was ambitious, perhaps even slightly naive, Maya wanted the perfect holiday greeting card featuring her two feline companions. The studio was set with a stark white backdrop meant to make the festive colors pop. The floor was strategically littered with oversized props giant, shiny peppermint candies and large red baubles meant to evoke a sense of whimsical wonder.
There was Jasper, the sleek all black cat who had been wrestled into a chunky, red cable knit sweater. He wore it with a mix of stoic dignity and mild resentment. Then there was Felix, the tuxedo cat with distinct white paws and chest, sporting a festive red ribbon collar and an expression of endless curiosity.
The session began with high hopes. Maya, dressed elegantly in black with sheer sleeves, scooped both cats up for a classic portrait. For a fleeting moment, the chaos of the season faded. She looked down at them not with the stress of a director, but with deep affection. Jasper, resigned to his woolly fate, leaned into her shoulder for warmth. Felix gazed upward, temporarily mesmerized by the studio lights. It was a tender tableau quiet, composed, and full of love. This was the perfect shot she had envisioned.
But cats are liquid, and their patience is fleeting. As Maya crouched down among the giant candy props to try a different angle, gravity and feline instincts took over. The model behavior evaporated. Felix decided Maya’s lap was merely a slide to get closer to a shiny red ornament on the floor. Maya couldn’t help but crack up, her genuine laughter captured in the frame as she tried to contain the squirming bundles of fur. It was the reality of life with cats, you can set the stage, but they will write the script. The perfection wasn’t in the pose, but in the joyful struggle.
Eventually, Maya realized the best strategy was surrender. She stepped out of the frame, leaving the stage entirely to the boys. Surprisingly, this was when they decided to hit their marks.
Lying amidst red wrapped gifts and striped spheres, they looked like the guardians of Christmas. Felix, his white whiskers twitching against his black fur, stared intensely right down the camera lens, ready for his close up. Jasper, looking cozy in his sweater, gazed off into the middle distance, perhaps plotting his eventual escape from the knitwear.
When Maya looked through the proofs later, she realized the story wasn’t in just one picture. It was the sequence, the loving hold, the hilarious squirming, and the final, independent calm. The holiday card wouldn’t just be a photo of cats, it would be a testament to the beautiful, unpredictable reality of sharing a home with them.
Shannon Willis can usually be found in the company of furry friends. A passionate animal enthusiast, her work is often inspired by her deep love for cats, dogs, and the animal kingdom as a whole.
