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75-year-old Creates Surreal Images In Honor Of His Deceased Cat (70 Pics)
Interview With Artist
Many of us know the feeling when you just terribly miss a pet you used to have. I sure do, even got a tattoo of my cat! However, 75-year-old Richard Saunders took it to a whole new level. The artist decided to express love for his cat, who died 5 years ago, by creating extremely surprising surreal images. In these images, plants from real places are replaced by giant bushes in the shape of his adorable cat Tolly.
Richard Saunders exclusively told Bored Panda the story behind his project named “The Topiary Cat”: “Initially I created these images just for fun. I had taken a photograph, in the grounds of a historic house, of a huge cloud topiary, and it occurred to me that I could fairly easily photograph Tolly in a position to match the shape of the bushes.”
More info: Facebook | thetopiarycat.co.uk
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Samantha PandaNotBored 4 years ago
It’s absolutely beautiful. If I could I would also. I lost my darling Louie last year…I still can’t cry, I’m scared too. I understand this, some won’t but then people find ways of dealing with loss differently ❤️ RIP Louie
Karaseren Murphee 4 years ago
You are an amazing person. I lost my cat in 2019, but I am no artist of masterpieces like you are. Please, go to a book publisher, and have your work become a book.
Rosie Whitworth Bailey 3 years ago
I want one! It's just brilliant what this man does! Just love it his work! 🐱🐾🐾
Richard claims that after making the first image and posting it on Flickr, it was stolen and his name was removed without any approval. The image ended up going viral on Facebook and people believed it to be a real topiary! Later, BBC did a story for their page and revealed Richard to be the real creator of these manipulations as he made more and more of them.
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Gizella Magyar 4 years ago
This must be the most missed and loved cat ever. His life must have been worth so much to this man.
Richard has been a surrealist painter since he was a teenager and learned to use Photoshop over two decades ago in his job as an advertising Creative Director. He says: “The idea of creating The Topiary Cat, over eight years ago, while Tolly was still alive, was easily accomplished with skills I already knew. The images have become more complicated since, many taking days to produce, with tailor-made photos taken especially for them.”
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
It's photo-shopped, they all are. It's in the article and the title.
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Cecilia Herrera 4 years ago
This was truly a labor of love. What a wonderful tribute to your sweet kitty!
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Hermione 4 years ago (edited)
Cannot be real....Oh pays to read the blurb first. Thought the first few were real. 😂
Sarah watson 4 years ago
Me to! It was this pic on the beach that made me question it.
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TheresaJason Leal 4 years ago
Hermione I was so amazed at what I thought were this man's yard skills that I did the same thing! 😂
D Barton 4 years ago
I wish I was that artistic. I just lost my beloved ESC to two at large vicioys dogs who mauled him to death just 2 feet from my house..
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
🙀I'm so sorry🥺 that happened to you😿 I'm not good with technology either, photo-shop is beyond me too.
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Sammie & Co. 4 years ago
Do you even read the blurb? It says they’re all photoshopped
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Elizabeth Guss 4 years ago (edited)
Cat #5 is my personal fave - looks just like my sleeping kitties! It cracks me up that so many commenters think these are real. I just WISH they were.
After Tolly died in 2016, Richard was too upset to consider continuing with The Topiary Cat, but his 40,000 followers on Facebook persuaded him to carry on. Richard believes that it helps them when their own furry companions pass on.
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Cecilia Herrera 4 years ago
Your kitty is looking down at you and smiling (and purring) from the Rainbow Bridge.
Charles Cossel 4 years ago
No it hasn't. That little energy has returned to it's source. Just as all life does.
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RUTH Honaker 4 years ago
I will remember thIs forever. And forever after .. So, so comforting and peaceful and inspiring. Thank you kind Sir for sharing your heart and soul and magical unsurpassed artistic brilliance. Bless you Frank and especially Tolly.
Jade Donato 4 years ago
I can't believe how absolutely perfect the sculpture is looks like your baby is looking right at up at the rainbow thank you for sharing this with us I can still see your pain as well it's hard sharing your heart thank you
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
It's not a sculpture, it's photo-shopped. The article/title says so.
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Will Young 4 years ago (edited)
Unfortunately, I think that the kitty is dead. I was reading some of the paragraphs and he is using Photoshop to honor his cat ❤️😢 Edit: I don't know if you knew that.
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The Topiary Cat has grown into quite the enterprise. Richard now also creates puzzles, 3D images, and a novel, of which he has done a reading on YouTube, chapter by chapter. So The Topiary Cat’s adventures continue, Tolly is now accompanied by another Russian Blue named Georgi.
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Lorali Srygley 4 years ago
This legit looks like one of those realistic cartoon things (I forgot what they're called)
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Sarah Warren 4 years ago
"Now go into the hoomans house and return with all the meat from the cold box."
When asked, which of his creations is his personal favorite, Richard says it’s usually the latest one. As for general inspiration, Richard says he is influenced by many other artists. Some of his all-time favorites are Dalí followed by Max Ernst, then the Pre-Raphaelites.
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Veronica Connelly 4 years ago
The bushes aren't real...it has been said many many times that these are edited photos. Photoshop.
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Pamela Dahlke 4 years ago
This is my favorite, the eyes are so expressive, melts my heart. Beautiful!!
Creator admitted to Bored Panda that most people he meets love The Topiary Cat, initially disappointed the creations aren't “real”, then they convert quickly to devotees of the continuing story. The future of the project depends on the reception to the book “The Topiary Cat” which is being produced in very limited quantities at first as a test of the market.
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PeachPossum 4 years ago
Judging the distance for that egg bush to drop on them. Tolly taking revenge for all the eggs the Easter Bunny took.
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Sammie & Co. 4 years ago
“DONT nom on the horses, Tolly… DONT nom on them…. You can do this…” 😭💗
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Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
The real kitty is nearly microscopic compared with the topiary cat!
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Jan Lansangan 4 years ago
So cool! Artist using photos and photos hope to make his kitty leglandary! Hahaha leglandary! Get it?
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Bianca Nava 4 years ago
This should become an illustrated children’s book. So pure and so sweet! I love it
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Yep, since they aren't good for them, you are spot on👏😺👍
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#22
Sarah watson 4 years ago
We wouldn't stand a chance. Forget about the roof of the parking garage also, they would bat the cars off and walk away.
#23
Mary Rose Kent 4 years ago
Mine always flopped over on his side so as to have more surface area available for heat absorption
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Sarah Mccullough 4 years ago
Does anyone else see kitty face in the pond or is that just me????!!!
Brian Bennett 4 years ago
Yep I do too! When it comes to cats my imagination runs wild!
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Elizabeth Guss 4 years ago
Those bunnies are freaking out... "Do you see the size of that thing?" "Shhhh! It'll hear us"
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Elizabeth Guss 4 years ago
The pose is PURR-FECT! The ears, the paw, the posture (leaning in)... This is a talented artist as well as a man gifted with a sense of humor.
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Pam Pallett 4 years ago
That kitty is the artist's cat, added to the image by him.
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#30
Elaine Tsialafos 4 years ago
All these pictures are so lovely they bring tears to my eyes and heart.
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Jan Vaccaro 4 years ago
Love how the dappled sunlight settles on Tolly & the tiny Russian Blue.
Jessica Randall 4 years ago
They're both Tolly - the Blue is Tolly photoshopped in also.
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Brian Bennett 4 years ago
I'd like to fish but I don't like to get my paws wet - thanks anyway!
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Brian Bennett 4 years ago
Could you scratch just a little bit higher - there you almost got it!
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Cheryl Carter 4 years ago
The cat that all these mimic is in almost all of these photos! Some are a little tricky to find, but he is there.
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Justin Kantner 3 years ago
why are people disliking this..? makes no sense. 1: cats are cute and it's a cute dedication to his cat so all the hearty figures is reasonable to add. 2: there are sad emojis as well, as the situation is also sad bc of the dead cat. So there is literally nothing to dislike.. *facepalm*
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
You mean Clifford the Big Red Dog?!? Oh. My. Gosh! I'd forgotten about him, 🎼🎶Thanks for the memories🎶
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redonia@live.com 4 years ago
I cannot fathom how anyone can capture a more restfull scene than Topiary number 45! I do love cats.
Teri Gailey 4 years ago
Are any of your photographs of your available and for sale? gailey64@outlook.com
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Ahhh, you should have said "...how I met your mother."!!!
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago (edited)
And then Robin, OMG, I was just sitting there on my regular wire, cleaning myself, when suddenly, out of nowhere...🐦🐈
#51
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
You know that as soon as you turn your back, he's gonna try to bat you that ledge 😹🤣😹
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Brian Bennett 4 years ago
You know I really get tired of people and horses tramping around spoils my tranquility!
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TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Can you imagine how the fire department would handle this "cat stuck in tree" scenario? 🙀🙉😹
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Ana Garfield 4 years ago
Upvote each picture. Absolutely beautiful. Dedication and love for fur baby brings tears to my eyes as I think of the sadness felt.. And makes me think of my own that passed away. It hurts for so long..
Teresa Spanics 4 years ago
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your dear sweet kitty 😭😿
Load More Replies... Brian Bennett 4 years ago
I'm pretty sure I can get out of here - hey! you up there give me a push will ya!
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Betty Ann Gandy 4 years ago
I don't care if they were photoshopped, all of these were absolutely beautiful❣️ my Zeus is my baby when he passes wish I were talented enough to do this❣️ THANK YOU FOR SHARING❣️ put a smile on my face💕💕💕💕
#70
SLAtE' AVALLON 4 years ago
This man had such a beautiful heart for this Russian blue. I had one too and when my Russian blue passed away I felt like dying. So all my love goes out to this man for investing so much energy and honoring his beautiful Russian Blue.
Teresa Spanics 4 years ago
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of your dear sweet Russian Blue kitty 😭😿
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Patricia Frankel 4 years ago
What beautifully imaginative and sensitive work. As a cat lover and artist, I 'm so envious of this talent.
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What do you think ?
Kookamunga 4 years ago
I thought he might be actually trimming hedges in the shape of his dead cat. These images are pretty awesome, though. It hurts to lose pets.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
A lot of people apparently thought the same. I've found that it really helps to read the articles first, less confusing.
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Sugar Cargill 4 years ago
These are all beautiful! Wish they were real and I could go see them.
Cuervo 4 years ago
Deceitful headline suggests they were carved out of a bush. Good example how we are deceived by the media.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Then they must have changed it because it says "...creates EDITS of bushes..." now.
Load More Replies... Squirrel Cake 4 years ago
My dumba$$ genuinely thought they were real till I got a few pics down. Gorgeous images all the same
I love the 80’s 4 years ago
Me too, I need to start reading the descriptions.
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Ana Garfield 4 years ago
Topiary Cat should be a calender, if they aren't by now. My heart goes out to this man, whose love for his beloved kitty... Well, sir... Thank you for sharing these pictures with us.
Kookamunga 4 years ago
I thought he might be actually trimming hedges in the shape of his dead cat. These images are pretty awesome, though. It hurts to lose pets.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
A lot of people apparently thought the same. I've found that it really helps to read the articles first, less confusing.
Load More Replies... Sugar Cargill 4 years ago
These are all beautiful! Wish they were real and I could go see them.
Cuervo 4 years ago
Deceitful headline suggests they were carved out of a bush. Good example how we are deceived by the media.
TheAnimalLady 4 years ago
Then they must have changed it because it says "...creates EDITS of bushes..." now.
Load More Replies... Squirrel Cake 4 years ago
My dumba$$ genuinely thought they were real till I got a few pics down. Gorgeous images all the same
I love the 80’s 4 years ago
Me too, I need to start reading the descriptions.
Load More Replies... Ana Garfield 4 years ago
Topiary Cat should be a calender, if they aren't by now. My heart goes out to this man, whose love for his beloved kitty... Well, sir... Thank you for sharing these pictures with us.
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