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Eileen Mayo Cats in the Trees 1931. Linocut. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, presented by Rex Nan Kivell, 1953

Eileen Mayo Cats in the Trees 1931. Linocut. Collection of Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, presented by Rex Nan Kivell, 1953

And the animals shall inherit the earth

Note

It’s been interesting observing how nature has quietly but very quickly reclaimed the earth since we have all gone into Covid-19 lockdown. My social media timelines have been peppered with images of animals wandering where humans can’t, boars roaming in Barcelona, peacocks in Dubai, deer in Japan and schools of tiny fish in the now clear waters of Venice to name a few. Related of course are the clearing skies around the world.

Far less importantly, I have had animals cross my path lately – a microcosm of the world experience – while working on Gallery projects from a table in a sunlit corner of my little unit.

During the early days of lockdown, a Bengal cat that had meowed previously to me from nearby boundary walls decided to slink around my driveway. In the hopes of making a friend and getting a pat, I offered it a little feed. Preferring to eat alone, it then sprayed the hedge and took off. The cheeky little slink then returned to wander upstairs before exiting back out through the living room… as you please!  

That was some weeks ago now. However, it has since reappeared with two pals in tow.

Firstly the returning Bengal sniffed about but not back inside, the next day a second, light coloured slinky arrived all skittish and fearful of so much as a breeze through the foliage. On the third day a little Bengal kitten took a chance to sneak through the foliage near my desk – I call it “Little Rousseau” after its commendable sense of wide eyed adventure.

This has been going on for a few weeks now, and although my story of random visits by rogue exotics hardly compares to a puma roaming the city of Santiago, it has lightened my home-bound work days. It makes me wonder what they get up to when I’m not at home, as my presence is clearly an unwelcome surprise!

I hope you enjoy the pics while I keep a side eye at the gate for these cheeky visits. Honestly you give one Bengal cat a spot of tinned salmon and a side of milk with a little yolk mixed in, and the next thing they all start showing up wanting a feed. The cheek!

As you can see visitor number one has taken to bathing indoors and now doesn’t mind a pat… better check my shopping list for salmon.

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