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Thursday, May 5, 2011

Lilly the Cat Gets Around!


It was love at first site for artist Gen Obata and his family, when they adopted their cat Lilly from the Humane Society in 1999. He describes the spirited feline as, "an incredibly expressive cat who constantly poses for photographs."


During the summer of 2001, Obata's children were at camp, when his wife suggested he send them a photo of Lilly. Deciding that "no simple photograph would do," Gen got the perfect shot of her and imposed it over the Gateway Arch, in their hometown of St. Louis. To his amazement, the playful image received the most comments he had ever received on one of his photographs.


Lilly in Nashville Notecard Set

The positive feedback quickly inspired him to continue Lilly's virtual travels, and he eventually began stocking his Etsy shop with note cards, ornaments, and other items emblazoned with images of the photogenic feline.
Lilly in New York Notecard Set

In addition to St. Louis, the jet-setting kitty has also made stops at several other destinations throughout the country, with a little help from the Obata family. Gen says, "I have included her, after the fact, on all of our family trips. Now Lilly has been to Kansas City, San Francisco, New York, and a few other places."


Want a piece of Lilly for yourself? Visit Gen's shop, and follow Lilly the Cat on Facebook for more!
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13 comments:

  1. TashaMay 5, 2011 at 2:24 PM

    That's cute. Lily's very cultured.

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  2. Mr PuddyMay 5, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    I think Lilly must be very very famous !
    She is HUGE !!!!

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  3. VickiMay 5, 2011 at 6:27 PM

    What a well travelled kitty! Great photos!

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  4. MariliaMay 5, 2011 at 8:10 PM

    Travel is very good Lilly! Enjoy!

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  5. dArtagnan Rumblepurr/Diego Hamlet MoonfurMay 5, 2011 at 9:32 PM

    What a BOOTIFUL girl!! I hope she comes out here to visit...

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  6. UnknownMay 6, 2011 at 1:18 AM

    Ok, I'm officially scared. Yes that makes me a scardy cat. You must admit that's one GIANT kitty! 0.0

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  7. NadbugsMay 6, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    Now I'm scared, too, but for a quite different reason than KokoroPurrs. You wrote "expressive," and I totally am down with that, I love this post --

    But I first read your word as "aggressive."

    There are no problems over here in Mudville, oh no. Everything's fine.

    It's just that Bugs won't participate in the tummy contest.

    Loyal friends of Catsparella, if you have a dime to spare in the empathy department, won't you stop by?

    Bugs won't care. But it'll be nice for his longsuffering Bean.

    Thank you for your pittance of care and attention.

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  8. cateMay 6, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    Now that's a well traveled kitty! So fun!

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  9. Admiral HestorbMay 6, 2011 at 4:09 PM

    MY son would love Lily in Nashville as that is where he attended University. :-) That's Nashville's Parthenon I see.

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  10. melfMay 7, 2011 at 8:27 AM

    That is so funny! I have to say the one with Lilly at the Arch is my favorite. I am glad I stopped by on the blogger hop!

    If you like Lilly's photos, you may like the Cats of War montage that Slate did. They figured with all the talk about the Dogs of War and a supposed dog being with the Navy Seals when they got Osama bin Ladin that cats deserved their own too of the horn. Here is the link: http://www.slate.com/id/2293232/.
    It's pretty funny.

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  11. Fr. Tom FishMay 7, 2011 at 12:20 PM

    Hahahaha! That photo of Lilly with the arch is the absolute best, although all of them are a riot. What a clever idea.

    Ooh, just saw the post above mine. Since I posted about being a SEAL chaplain, I'm interested in seeing the link mentioning cats. Of COURSE, we want to be part of such bravery, but I prefer an "in" with the Guy upstairs...

    Tom
    xoxo

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  12. TamagoMay 7, 2011 at 2:10 PM

    Oh I love the photos!! Lily is so cute and huge in these photos :-)
    How nice that she got to actually travel.

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  13. GigiMay 7, 2011 at 8:51 PM

    I just KNEW I saw a giant kitteh on top of the cable car the other day!

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