My friend Renee loved my black cat, Spot, so much she went to the local animal shelter seeking a similar cat. Instead an orange manx kitten caught her attention and it was love at first sight. Scratch grew to be a big beautiful warrior and hunter, the baddest cat in the neighborhood and his bond with Renee grew over the years.
Scratch had a home cats only dream about bordering on desert wilderness with a large hunting ground and a nearby canyon. He would always return to a loving home, eat his meal, and sleep safely on the bed at night. Then one day a couple months ago Scratch did not return. The days turned to weeks, and despite putting up signs and inquiries to neighbors there was no sign of Scratch. Perhaps he was the victim of a coyote or mountain lion. His fate will likely never be known.
In the last year Renee has taken up chainsaw carving, guided by her husband “Shane-Saw” who is a professional master carver. She had been carving animals up until recently when she decided to carve her first human figure, one of herself holding her dear Scratch. She did not like this first attempt which she traded to me for a drum. But to me it is a masterpiece that is honest and profound. Others that have seen it concur. It affects me every time I look at it as it shows her intense grief for her missing pet and also reminds me of my cat Spot who has now been deceased for several years. I thought I would share this with the readers of IOTW who I know to be lovers of their pets and have also suffered grief upon their deaths. RIP Scratch. – Billy Fuster
(Renee sells her carvings @_jocarver_ on instagram.)
Inspired. No kidding, that is wonderful.
Beautiful. RIP Scratch
That’s sad. We just lost our beloved GSD a couple of hours ago. This part of life is extreme suction. Wife cry her eyes out.
RIP Scratch
Beautiful carving. The feeling is, indeed, very visible in it.
Lost my oldest kitty Winslow just a couple of Months ago. He was 17 and had an untreatable corona virus (not THE corona virus) I see his penetrating eyes in that carving.
I love art, and that carving says so many things – and emotions. My husband’s sister had a conure parrot for many years, it was her “baby.” Well she forgot it was on her shoulder and she went out to feed the feral cats and the bird flew up into the trees. That was last week and obviously the bird isn’t coming back. She and her husband are devastated. All they can do is mourn. I think I see my SIL’s face in the carving.
Very moving. I’m not a good critic of art, but that carving clearly is emotional.
Is it okay to inject a little humor here? With all due respect to Renee, Ted Nugent can’t hold a candle (or a chain saw) to her.
I hope that carving helped ease her pain somewhat.
What a vehicle to express the emotion of loss of love but holding fast to what was..
it’s exquisite. the cat is so clearly a part of her.
RIP scratch, good fella.
Coyotes have immigrated to places they never used to be, e.g., Central Park NYC, downtown LA, Nova Scotia. You have to keep cats and small dogs inside at all times. The coyotes just do what coyotes are supposed to do. But to care for and love a pet for many years and have it taken away suddenly is heartbreaking.
I’m very sad to hear about Renee’s loss.
Thank you for sharing that. It hits everyone who has lost a beloved pet in the feels.
Over the year’s we’ve had cat’s that disappear and the saddest part you are left with, is hoping you will see your beloved pet again waiting for you when you get home. Thoughts and Prayers for Renee and Scratch. 🕊️❤️🙏
Texson sorry about your loss tonight too.😿
Sometimes you get the perfect cat. I have had several cats over the years. And then there was Beans. A trooper. If you went out on the Jon boat he’d jump in for the ride. If you got in the recliner he’d be in your lap. If you went up the ladder to fix the roof he was up there with you.
Some critters are just irreplaceable.
Lost him a year ago. Still not over it.
Sounds like the same kind of bond you had with Scratch and Spot.
Billy, that was a heart-felt summary of the love and pain of loss we, who have pets, endure. Renee is blessed to have a friend like you and the few short years with her beloved beautiful Scratch. My condolences to her and to you as I’m sure that you still miss Spot.
Texson, share you grief with your wife and may God bless you both.
With disparate lifespans, we need to focus on the fine time we spend with our non-human house-mates and try to get past losing them. Yeah, that doesn’t happen.
Sometimes an artist will create something that doesn’t meet her expectations, and so doesn’t value it the way the rest of the world, lacking her vision, can. This looks like one of those times.
Why does name Scratch and this design fit perfectly?
Maybe because it’s cut from wood and could also be use as a scratching pole?? In a posthumous way?
I take art fuckin’ seriously.
I’m not trying to be funny.
The love between a human and their pet is very special indeed. I am between pets at the moment and miss them terribly.
Phone home.