Li Ward photographer of pets and weddings. Fat Orange Cat Studio is a fresh and candid boutique photography service in Boston, Massachusetts.

It’s been awhile since either of the boys got any face time on the blog, so today I share with you the recent craze on the streets.

Veebs is like a hermit crab, ditching his sleeping compartments as soon as he comes across something new and sexy in his path.

Here is Sony’s brother Smokey. He did not hesitate to introduce himself to me.

Hello. My eyes are green too. Greener than Sony’s.

For the first five minutes or so I was not taking any photos, just getting acquainted and talking. Smokey was all do-si-do with his tail in the air, his purr motor going at full tilt, receiving head scratches and giving head butts. He reminded me of my old gray cat from eons ago whom I had inexplicably named Tanny…except she had golden eyes. And was terrified of strangers. Anyway, Sony remained in his chair of choice not caring if he got head scratches or not. Sony might be a tricky one, but for sure it looked like photographing Smokey was going to be a piece of fur-covered cake.

Then I pulled out the camera. That was when Smokey demonstrated his neat trick. Feline teleportation! Now I purr next to you, now I under the bed! ZOINKS!

Sony remained on his chair, unfazed. After some minutes, we tried to tell Smokey it was time for him to come out and take his bow, but his performance under the bed needed more tweaking. It was 50 or more frames of just Sony, the “shy” one, before Smokey finally emerged. But not without much trepidation. Poor kitty!

Hey, what about all those head butts? Remember how I made you purr? I thought we had something going!

Becky, their owner, was surprised that their personalities apparently went topsy-turvy, and she’s known them for 15 years. Ah yes. Cats. They’re very complicated peoples.

So Smokey was continuously teleporting throughout the shoot. I was afraid I wasn’t going to be able to represent him well. But with a little patience and a lot of catnip, I think we managed to coax out his inner model. And even his inner kitten! Yay!

I love how cat eyes dilate to the size of ink wells, and ears point forward when they’re on the hunt. And then in the next second, they’re back to chillin’.

Thanks to Meredith for setting up this shoot for her mom, Becky, as a birthday and Mother’s Day gift! And thanks to Becky for offering me something to drink in the form of a glass of white wine. It was a hot almost-summer’s day and the chilled wine was very refreshing, more so than the other possible/non-alcoholic drinks of choice. (Warning: do not offer me a DRINK drink unless you really mean it!)

And that’s a wrap.

Right before I left for our week long vacation to Martha’s Vineyard, I had the pleasure of photographing Smokey and Sony, two beautiful gray gentlemen who have been with their owner since they were wee kittens. They are 15 years old now, and living just outside of Boston in Newton. They just relocated from Texas, by car. ACK! That’s the sound Baxter would make as he throws up for the billionth time, if he were to go on such a roadtrip. I think both felines and humans alike deserve a medal for that feat of endurance.

First up is Sony, he of the blue-green-yellow eyes, and named after the walkman.

He’s considered the shy one, but look at him sauntering in front of the camera like he’s been doing it all his life.

Sony sleeps: on his favorite stripey chair | Sony likes: feathers and mice laced with catnip | Sony loves: hugs from mom

Oooo red bath mat, so plushy and deep, my kitty cat hands cannot resist sinking into your squishy fibers!

Dear Cat,

I want your eyes.

kthnxbai.

Next up: Smokey!