The Fighter

The Fighter

8" x 16", acrylic

Tripod is a fighter in more ways than one.

First, he has a tenacious hold on life and has likely used up most of his nine lives by now through various incidents unknown to me, the most serious being loss of a front leg.  His feral ways show through from time to time and more so when he is asleep and dreaming.  He growls, hisses and spits in his sleep.  Scary, ferocious sounds that make the hair on the back of my neck go up.

As an intact male (The Other One takes it as a personal affront when I mention vet and neutering) territorial fights occur.  There are few cats around as I'm a good distance from any neighbours, but one does keep turning up and he and Tripod have disagreements.  Usually instigated by Tripod I might add.

Tripod is territorial to the nth degree, despises all other animals, especially dogs and occasionally a human who doesn't take his fancy.  I'm presuming it was something to do with his wild years in the woods.  Its extreme to the point that I would not bring another animal in the house.  A grown dog he would stalk and attack.  A puppy or kitten, I have no doubt he would kill.  So it seems he'll be an only cat.

This painting shows him at his finest after a night outside in the summer.  The sun was streaming through the window.  Tripod was exhausted and very cranky, sleeping on a throw on the sofa, wrapping himself into contortions to get comfortable.  He was sporting various superficial war wounds, his fur looked like he'd been through a bog backwards and did I mention how cranky he was?

Needless to say, I let him sleep.

The painting is 8 x 16 on canvas board in acrylic.