After Kliban

 I once met Kilban at a picnic table in Tiburon....drawing cats, of course. I was an insta-fan. None are wearing red sneakers here, though, but it might make climbing trees out of the question.

I dedicate this cartoon to all the firestorm cats and other critters that survived the California wildfires of 2017. So many have found their owners, so many have not and are still orphans, so many perished.

Something I wrote a long time ago. One of my first published pieces. I didn't think it was any good, and was surprised it was selected.

 The Cat Wears Red Sneakers

                    —After Kliban 

The cat wears red sneakers. He's been hanging around here for some time now. He's heard that on the streets of Guerneville, it's a good place to hang out. He's as good as any punk. As he rolls up his tiger stripe socks and shirt cuffs with such an air of nonchalance, you suddenly realize that you've met him before. Was it in the park when the fog rolled in in in grey cat feet? No, he's wearing red sneakers. Still, his feet could be grey underneath. If only you could induce him to remove one sneaker, then you could be sure.  But how can you ask him such an indelicate question? He may take offense, and depending on the moon, he may want to rumble or even have a good caterwaul. Just look at his tattered ears. You know he can whip out a claw with switchblade precision. Suppose you are a ladycat, you could walk right up to him real cool and drape your tail right across his shoulders and say...How about a little red sneaker, baby? But somehow you sense he's not in the mood, so you stroll up to him real cool, toothpick hanging out of your mouth and say, Hey man, got a light?

9/10/1979

Published in Shadowbox/Sonoma Mandala

http://mohurley.blogspot.com/1979/01/the-cat-wears-red-sneakers.html