Acrylic on canvas – 8 x 8 inch – Unique work

The weather is awful, you wouldn’t want to let a cat outside today in a small village in central France.

And yet… who do I see along the road as I come out of the bend at the entrance to the village where I live? A cat! My dog ​​Roy is going crazy.

Yes, because I’ll explain. When you have a dog, whatever the weather outside looks like, whether it’s raining, windy or snowing… You have to take him out! First things first. The second concerns my dog’s character. Roy is a lovely dog, almost 5 years old but still as boisterous as ever. Some would say very lively, very intense. I say very « pain in the ass »! He pulls on the leash. I’m the specialist in sliding on roads, grass, all land in fact and with luck on my feet or even on my stomach or back! But everything is fine, I love him… I really do!

As for him, an Australian Shepherd who doesn’t listen to anything—well, yes, he does, his desires, his instincts—he hates cats. I don’t know why, but that’s just the way it is. So, of course, when he spots the feline in the distance, well before me, I have a hell of a time containing him. Needless to say, I fail.

Roy pulls, pulls, pulls on the leash. My hand burns terribly. I let go… He runs towards the cat. I scream his name for him to come back. It’s all in vain. I’m terrified. I run after him as best I can. To my surprise, the cat doesn’t leave. Quite the opposite, he rushes towards my dog. I fear the worst.

Roy stops dead, and so does the cat. They’re a meter apart. I arrive, out of breath, and I recognize the little guy: it’s Charly, the cat of a friend from the neighboring village. He’s come a long way! The dog barks, the cat spits. So far, everything’s fine.

Suddenly, the two calm down, slowly moving towards each other. The unthinkable happens. Charly lets a docile Roy approach him. I step back a few steps to give them the privacy they need for a first date. The dog pretends to jump and run from side to side. The cat imitates him. The game becomes complicity. It’s so beautiful it brings tears to my eyes. Like cat and dog!