Some cats take a little convincing before they’re comfortable with a camera nearby. Thomas O’Malley, on the other hand, seemed to assume I was there to document his kingdom.
He wasn’t wrong.
You might remember Thomas’s story. In late 2022, a kind stranger found him injured on the side of the road on the other side of the state. They stopped, got him to a veterinarian, and set off a chain of events that would change his life.
A microchip connected him to a Spokane rescue that had cared for him as a kitten back in 2014. From there, volunteers, veterinary teams, and generous donors came together to help him heal. Thomas had suffered serious injuries. He lost an eye, fractured his spine, and needed surgery to repair his palate so he could eat normally again. At one point, there were even concerns about whether his tail could be saved.
Through it all, people showed up for him.
Heather agreed to foster Thomas while he recovered, thinking she’d be caring for him for a few weeks. Eight months later, he was still there, and her family knew he had found his home.
Thomas O’Malley had a new name, a new family, and a second chance at the life every cat deserves.
Four years later, he’s enjoying the good stuff: cozy blankets, Party Mix, a goofy dog, and a few younger housemates to keep in line.
Not a bad retirement plan.
I’ll admit, I approach cat photography a little differently than I do dog photography.
It’s not that I’m worried about cats. It’s that I know how easily an unfamiliar experience can become overwhelming for them, and some cats need more time and space to feel comfortable again once they’ve been spooked.
So I go in with a different mindset. Think less traditional portrait session and more National Geographic. I’m prepared to hang back, watch what happens, and photograph a cat on their own terms. If they decide the session isn’t for them, I’m not going to force it.
Thomas, however, had other plans.
On a lovely late-summer afternoon, he strolled through his grandparents’ backyard like he owned every square inch. He explored, checked out his surroundings, and generally went about his business while I quietly moved around, looking for opportunities to photograph him in his element.
I also kept an eye out for his more reserved feline companions. They were a little shyer about having a photographer around, so I gave them room to decide how much they wanted to participate.
That’s one of my favorite things about photographing animals. There isn’t one right way for a session to unfold. Sometimes we get energetic play and big personalities. Other times, the best photographs come from simply watching an animal be themselves.
And sometimes, you get a cat who seems to believe the entire backyard is his personal estate.
After giving Thomas time to explore, we brought his people into the mix.
Heather offered up head scratches and snuggles, while her husband brought out some of Thomas’s favorite toys. It was a chance to capture more than just Thomas on his own. We could photograph the relationships that make his life what it is.
Because as much as I love a beautiful portrait of an animal, I also love seeing the little things that make a relationship special. The familiar hands reaching down for a scratch behind the ears. The way a cat settles in with someone he trusts. The playful moments that happen when a favorite toy comes out.
These are the details that make photographs feel personal.
Thomas has quite a story behind him, but he isn’t defined by what happened to him. He’s a beloved member of a family, a confident backyard explorer, and a cat with plenty of personality left to share.
Those are the parts of his life we wanted to remember.
Whether I’m photographing a dog who can’t stop moving or a cat who would rather observe from a distance, my approach starts in the same place: getting to know the animal in front of me.
With nearly 20 years of photographing pets, I’ve learned that a good session doesn’t require every animal to behave a certain way. It requires us to pay attention, adjust, and give them room to be themselves.
Thomas made that part easy. He had places to explore, people who adored him, and absolutely no apparent concerns about being the center of attention.
I just had to keep up.
And I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas through the Pet Savers PNW calendar fundraiser, which brings together local pets and their people to support low-cost preventative veterinary care.
It’s a wonderful way to celebrate the animals who make our lives better while helping other pets get the care they need. And in Thomas’s case, it was a chance to meet a cat whose story is a pretty incredible reminder of what can happen when people come together for an animal in need.
I’m so glad our paths crossed, and I got to spend an afternoon documenting this very deserving king in his backyard kingdom.
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