About Cats
All except one of these pictures are of one cat we called Hips who chose to live with us for many years. I photographed him because he couldn't be ignored. I only wish I had photographed him more. He liked to help me when I was photographing in the garden. I think he figured out it was some type of hunting. We worked well together. One time we got into a cat together as partners. There were always male cats coming around to challenge his territory. I'd worry about him getting into fights and would l try to keep an eye and ear open for signs of trouble. One day I saw him facing off with a large fierce fluffy cat whom he'd had standoffs with before. They were face to face about 8 feet apart, making those disturbing moaning-howling noises cats make. I walked over and quietly stood next to him. After a few minutes he looked up at me, locked eyes as if to give me a sign and then, to my surprise, he pounced. I followed. That was the last we saw of that big gray cat for some time.
Anyone who thinks we are the only animals on the planet with complex minds and complex emotions isn’t paying attention.
David Lebe, July 2017
IMAGE: Behind the Sedum, 2005 (detail)