Dear readers, I was accused of being “catty” for only covering dogs in my last article about art.
However, I assure you it was an unintentional slight. June is National Cat Month and the history of cats in art is long and interesting.
Amazingly, the first known images of cats appeared more than 4,000 years ago in Egyptian frescoes.
Early Egyptians elevated particular animals to godhood. In Egypt, cats were not gods but the vessels that the gods chose to inhabit. They served as an everyday reminder of the power of the gods.
The Minoans were the first to express their love of cats in a purely artistic way with frescoes and playful picture reliefs. In contrast, Greek and Roman art depicted cats as symbols of freedom and independence.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, Western societies entered an era of chaos. Cats fell from grace during the Dark Ages. Unfortunately, black cats became symbols of evil or witchcraft. In fact, execution of cats was common during witch trials.
The Renaissance and Enlightenment periods brought hope for felines and man. Many of the artworks in the Baroque and Rococo eras show cats in a realistic light painted by the great masters such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt. This fresh interest in cats opened a door for future artists’ interpretations.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, hundreds of artists seized the cat craze and created bold cat art. Picasso and Norman Rockwell helped usher in a new era of cats as fascinating creatures and loving companions. Our current fascination with cats extends to movies, plays, statues, cartoons, and clothing.
Anyone who has ever known a cat realizes cats do not have owners; they have servants, and at this rate, the world is at their paw tips.
ATTENTION
June adoption special. We will discount any adoption for an adult dog by $50. Females are normally $150 now only $100. Males once $125 are now $75. All of our animals are healthy, spay/neutered, current on vaccinations, and microchipped.
LOOKING FOR A HOME
We have two handsome male puppies 10 months and one-year-old. BG and Diego are anxiously waiting to find their forever home. We also have 16-week-old Border Collie mix puppies and five kittens. Come and check them out; they are cute!
IN NEED OF
• Funds to sustain the shelter, we have veterinary, food, and utility bills. Any contribution will be helpful.
• Would you like to foster animals? We need volunteers. Call 775-423-7500 for details.
• Dog walkers, we need consistent volunteers to walk and socialize our dogs. Call 775-423-7500 for details.
• Aluminum cans. We will pick up your cans; give us a call at 775-423-7500. You can also drop them off at CAPS.
SHOUT OUT TO
• Diane Peters for fostering a litter of kittens and contributing to the veterinary bill. You have a wonderful cattitude!
• Our consistent volunteers and patrons. Bow, wow to you!
COME SEE US
CAPS is open to the public on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We suggest appointments for adoptions and food pantry.
OVER THE RAINBOW
Our sweet Inca left us on May 17. She was a lovely girl and beloved by BeBe, Wayne, Lily, Duke, and Abby. She will forever be in our hearts!
DON’T FORGET
• June Holiday: National Foster a Pet Month.
• If you would like a newsletter, call 775-423-7500 or email caps@cccom.net.
• CAPS’ mailing address is P.O. Box 5128, Fallon, NV 89407. CAPS’ phone number is 775-423-7500. CAPS’ email address is caps@cccomm.net. Please visit the CAPS website (www.capsnevada.com) and Facebook page (Churchill Animal Protection Society). Be sure to “Like” CAPS on Facebook because we are likeable.
Kathleen Williams-Miller is a CAPS volunteer. Email jkwmil@outlook.com.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment