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A Contract with Cats2007/11/01
text by Qin Li "I swear that, no matter how tiresome I am, I'll serve you food on time. No matter how stinky I feel, I'll clean the soil. All my life I'll follow you, protect you, serve you, and be your slave, forever and ever after." It sounds very much like a solemn exchange of vows between lovers in a big wedding ceremony. Instead, it is a contract between the author and his five cats. Myukaka is a 28-year-old, pony-tailed Taiwanese freelance illustrator. He recently published A Contract with Cats, a pictorial book about his life with his five most beloved cats. Cats are more than just pets, says Myukaka. They are like family members who share your rooms, desks, sofas, computers, books, and their entire lives with you. Each cat in the book is endowed with vivid human character, making them more a part of the author's life and struggles. Myukaka describes his life with cats, three male, two female, with lively tones and light hearted humour. For example, there are specific cat's rights and master's obligations. It's a cat's right to be picky, so as to be excellent. It's a master's obligation to be a cat slave, happily. The book is very popular among youngsters. It is full of beautiful water colour illustrations. The first page is a fuzzy scene of a morning call made by cats. In another picture, a cat and the master stare at each other, to fight for authority as the head of the family. Most striking, however, is not the books images; it is a letter to readers at the very end of the book. If you want to adopt a cat, warns Myukaka, you'd better be a stable and mature grownup. A cat may be a mere play companion for you, but you are the cat's whole world.
A Contract with Cats 《猫奴契约书》 By Myukaka (妙卡卡） Modern Publishing House (现代出版社） July 2007, 12 yuan |
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