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

If I had such a beautiful cat with such a snowy coat and such shiny green eyes, I would name him Snowball. His full name would be Snowball Igloo Blizzard the Third as I have had two cats named such before. Luckily this cat dodged this unoriginal if obvious moniker and is known as Eppa. Eppa of the Back Bay.

He’s seriously the whitest cat I’ve ever seen, even with his gray streaks at the top of his head. And he is quite large too, as large and sweet as a baby seal on an ice floe. His face reminds me of Easter with his fluffy baby bunny fur, and his eyes and nose made out of jelly beans.

I love cats.

I met Willow and Nala recently for a photoshoot on a lovely almost-summer’s afternoon. Willow is a happy Jack Russell mix with Pippi Longstocking ears, Nala is a pretty calico with supersized thumbs. They’re moving to Chicago soon, so I was glad to be able to document a day in their South End home before they say farewell to Boston.

Last but not least we have the remaining crew from Sundara’s household. Just an fyi on her family timeline over the last 6 years or so: she started with Simon, then Eddie, then Augustus the dog, then found a litter of kittens, spayed and kept the mother (Adeline) and one of her babies (Ulysses), had the rest adopted, and then welcomed Lily into the household. Yes, she is no doubt that crazy dog and cat lady! I love it.

I also loved photographing in Sundara’s house. The interior is open and the walls are stark white except for a bold swath of orange (yay!) on the kitchen cabinetry. A very large window facing east I mean west let the light in all afternoon. I had a field day with sun flare and light bouncing off all the white walls.

SIMON

EDDIE (a scaredy cat. This is the only photo you’ll see of him)

ULYSSES

ADELINE

I had a lovely time visiting Sundara and her four-legged posse out in Seattle. Hope to see you all again soon!

Here now is a true fat orange cat. Yogi is a gorgeous Maine Coon, and at 19 lbs he really puts my own fat orange cat to shame. I came home from the shoot and Veebs suddenly resembled to me a small orange pea. I think I will now disclose that Veebs is really not that fat, and so my company name is a sham. It should be renamed to Cheerful Orange Cat Whose Plumbing Got Recently Backed Up Because His Mom Tried to Switch Him to a Raw Diet (but that is another story for another day).

I slung Yogi over my shoulder and it was like carrying a baby lion that had just eaten a baby hippo. I loved it!

Yogi is from the same household as Kendall the boxer. He is a funny little bugger. He was so very camera-ready.  Look at him lounging on his back, doing the occasional stomach crunch. What do you mean this isn’t normal?

I am wayhayhay behind on photo sharing, so before another week goes by without content, I thought I’d post some quick photos of the one thing that can be understood in all languages: MEW MEW MEW.

Our neighbor Marna and friend of the Animal Rescue League of Boston invited us over for the first in what I hope will be an on-going series called “Kittens and Wine Friday.” In a safe and welcoming environment, we drink wine, nibble on cheese, and discuss the current state of kitten affairs. The kittens in question this week (and probably the next) were Freddy and Trip, a pair of 5 week-old orphans that Marna is currently fostering. She took over for another foster whose responsibility was to bottle-feed these little gremlins, since their mother had died shortly after giving birth. They are but weeeeee weeeee things.

This is Trip:

This is Freddy:

And this is Figaro, aka The Big Fig!

He was the first cat I photographed at the shelter many moons ago. After months and months at the shelter, Marna ended up adopting him. Figaro is the most awesomest cat ever, don’t tell Veebs or Bunny. He is a full-figured boy with garlic bulb markings on his face and is just such a character. He so far has helped foster 6 kittens or so, showing them how to properly stalk and chase string.

Here he is with Freddy – the little black blob at the end of the string – for scale.

A big thanks to Marna and Figaro for hosting Kitten and Wine Friday! We’re hoping to reciprocate the gesture soon…Again, don’t tell Veebs or Bunny.