Because They Are Recognized, Known and Remembered One More Time

July 27, 2026 Bernadette

"Fun and Colorful Kitties" nesting keepsake box set. — “Fun and Colorful Kitties” nesting keepsake box set.

You’d think that facing the public while still grieving losses would be difficult, but not when what’s all around you are the cats you’ve lost, their images all over the merchandise I make and display, the story of the image and them included in what you buy, and sharing stories happy and sad with others who love cats.

Once I recognize them as a cat person, or at least interested in cat things, I always start my introduction to visitors to my vendor tent, “I’ve rescued and fostered cats for 45 years—and here they are!” gesturing with my hands out in front of me at things on the tables then sweeping out to my sides at all the merchandise on the art panels, everything they see there.

“All the cats you see here are real cats,“ I tell them, “and all of this is my artwork, all of the cats you see here are cats I’ve known, rescued, fostered, loved, and even the portraits I’ve painted were cats I got to know and love even if I never met them.”

Then I finish, “They made an artist out of me. I owe a big part of my life’s career to them.”

Usually a conversation ensues as they tell me about their cats, or the family member’s or friend’s cat(s) for whom they are looking for a gift. And sometimes others come in and we’re all talking cats. Sometimes they tell me about a behavior issue or some cats outdoors they care for or need care for. More conversation and I hand out information and links to articles. Sounds like heaven, right? Any wonder why I do this every Sunday?

Three designs, two new styles of totes and messenger bags.

As they browse the merchandise I point out the stories I have attached to each design, the photo of Bella with the big round eyes posing with the dishtowels to show I didn’t exaggerate, Basil with his paws up on the stack of books in “Ailurobibliophile” (and then have fun explaining the word), Mr. Sunshine and Giuseppe cuddled together in the pose I used for the scratchboard sketch called “Black and Light.”

Jelly Bean and Mr. Sunshine in their poses on the dishtowels, and Giuseppe joining them to negotiate who will sleep in the dishtowel drawer today.

Everything draws a laugh of recognition, even if their cats aren’t black, and more conversation.

And others, cruising through the tiles, keepsake boxes, garden flags, votive lamps, gift books, refrigerator magnets, note cards….

Happy Meow-lo-ween and Only Good Luck Black Cats garden flags.

“Everything has a story, and you’ll find that story somewhere on the thing,” I tell them.

This past weekend, as many weekends, I mention my recent losses, and also recognize that with so many cats in my life, there has been a lot of loss. This is also comforting to people who have lost cats, or any pet, to bring my own grief out into the open and let them know whether their loss was recent or decades ago, I’ve also experienced it, and I understand.

“When people look at these things that have their image they are recognized as having existed by yet another person,” I told one person this weekend as I pointed out Stanley and Fawn and Peaches and Sally on keepsakes.

“You get to know them and take their likeness home, and then they are remembered by yet one more person. It helps me to heal from those losses, and I promised each one of them from years ago that I would make sure they would never be forgotten.”

Pet Loss in the First Person

From the time I began writing about my experiences in pet loss, relating what I was feeling and thinking about it as I moved through grief, readers have thanked me, often in private, for my honesty, grateful to know another shared their feelings as they moved through grief, or helped them make a decision.

Thank you for following our grief journey after losing three members of our feline family.

I hope sharing our experiences have helped you in some way, as sharing my experiences with you helps me.

You can read all the articles related to their loss by tapping one of these images in the side bar and in articles.

Read more articles about Pet Loss in the First Person, my personal losses, about Pet Loss and other Essays on The Creative Cat.

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Copyright

All images and text used on this site are copyrighted to Bernadette E. Kazmarski unless otherwise noted and may not be used without my written permission, although links to your site are more than welcome and are shared. Please ask if you are interested in using and image or story in a print or internet publication. If you are interested in purchasing a print of an image or a product including it, check my animal and nature website Portraits of Animals to see if I have it available already. If you don’t find it there, visit Ordering Custom Artwork for more information on a custom greeting card, print or other item.