Comics About Everyday Life With A Purrfect Feline Friend, By Nick Filippou
Nick Filippou is a comic artist who draws inspiration from his cat and their various daily interactions. He and his feline friend, Minnie, create hilarious illustrations together.
If you already own a cat, you can imagine the kind of daily adventures Nick transforms into amusing pieces of art. Thanks to Nick's realistic depictions, cat owners can relate to his illustrations.
Non-cat owners, on the other hand, can experience what it feels like to own a cat, thanks to his witty comic art. The comics are called “i-iz-cat,” spelled in the style of "cat-speak," reminiscent of the cat meme “I can haz Cheezburger.”
The beauty of his comics lies in their simplicity. He does not focus heavily on drawing details, as he aims to showcase his paw-some life with his cat, Minnie, rather than his artistic skills.
Nick has always been a cat lover. He adopted Minnie five years ago from a local rescue organization in Baltimore, and she is his inexhaustible source of inspiration.
"The clipped ear in the comics is real and is from her being part of the TNR program. Minnie is always the inspiration," says Nick.
His funny comics, infused with a touch of humor and a lot of sweetness, will make you fall in love with cats if you are not already. Here are some of their daily funny misadventures depicted hilariously.
#1 "I'll be alone with you"
"So, the comics star my real-life rescue cat, Minnie. I adopted Minnie five years ago from a shelter in Baltimore.
She was a former stray and part of a TNR program (trap-neuter-release) who spent most of her life living outside. The clipped ear in the comics is real and is from her being part of the TNR program.
My first comic came from a Christmas poem I wrote about the cat’s perspective of '‘Twas the Night Before Christmas' and I have been drawing them ever since. Minnie is always the inspiration," says Nick.
#2 "Warms your soul"
#3 The catnip is weak. Wait...
#4 "Good morning"
#5 "I can fit"
#6 Checked
#7 "Go away, you monster"
#8 "The flower started it, it's the one to blame."
"My favorite thing about cats is how zen they are, but at the same time, they’re little agents of chaos. Cats both relax me and make me laugh," Nick explained his love for cats.
#9 "Boop"
#10 Truly enigma
#11 Purrrrrrrr
#12 "A masterpiece"
#13 Enjoying nature.
#14 "But first me"
#15 Murder
Minnie is not the first cat he has adopted. "I adopted my first cat in college (also a rescue from Baltimore) and snuck him home. I named him Binx.
Of course, I got caught sneaking a cat into the house, and my dad, who was very anti-cat, wasn’t a fan. He warned me that if that cat scratched any furniture or things like that, he would take him back to the shelter.
Then, a few days later, I came home from class and saw my dad snuggling with my cat in my bed. They’ve been best friends ever since.
Even when I moved out a few years later, my dad told me I couldn’t take Binx with me because he loved him too much and that this was his home. It was pretty adorable.
I let Binx stay with my parents and moved into an apartment."
#16 Minnie's New Year's resolutions
#17 "Very private"
#18 "You are not getting up to stop me, so..."
#19 Cats are magical creatures.
#20 ... remove the cat again.
#21 "Hi cutie pie"
#22 "The healing power of cat purrs"
#23 "What a smug little jerk"
Nick told a story about how he met Minnie: "I started volunteering at a local rescue in Baltimore, and that’s where I met Minnie. Minnie was a very adventurous girl who was still living outside.
The shelter owner would call out 'Minnie!' and I’d see this adorable cat hop over the fence, returning from the woods, meowing up a storm. I fell in love.
I remember the shelter owner saying, 'Minnie would give anything to be in a loving home.' So when I had things situated at my apartment, I knew I had to adopt her.
I also adopted another cat, a tortie named Sylvia, who only had three legs. The two lived in my apartment for a few years until Sylvia, unfortunately, passed away.
Sylvia was a sassy girl whom I still miss very much. I was glad I was able to give her a home, even if it wasn’t for that long."
#24 Beep, beep
#25 "I haven't seen it"
#26 BFF
#27 You'll be reminded every five minutes
#28 "Star paws"
#29 Assistance is needed
#30 "I tolerate you"
Nick explained why Minnie is an easy cat to love and adore: "When I started dating my soon-to-be wife, I remember her telling me she wasn’t really a cat person. She much preferred dogs.
That was until she met Minnie. Minnie is the sweetest cat I’ve ever met and is quite similar to a dog.
She follows you EVERYWHERE, is very vocal, and loves to snuggle on your lap, your chest, even your head. She’s very loving.
My wife was impressed. When we moved into our house, Minnie loved it.
She had so much more room to explore and play."
#31 "I am infinite, I am eternal"
Nick and his wife adopted a dog too. "We eventually adopted a dog, a boxer rescue also from Baltimore, whom we named Dany. Dany is a very sweet girl and my first dog ever.
I was very worried about how Dany and Minnie would get along. We read plenty of articles and watched videos on how to introduce cats and dogs, following all the steps.
We found out Dany is also a sweetheart, and the two have become great friends who enjoy snuggling on the couch together. Minnie is still the queen, and Dany is her subject."
This is precisely what it looks like to have a feline friend. Nick's comical way of expression showcases it in the funniest way.
On his social media accounts, you can see more of his stunning illustrations. As Dr. Daniel Goleman, a renowned emotional intelligence expert, notes, "Our pets can help us manage our emotions and enhance our social connections." You can explore more about the emotional benefits of pets on his website, where he shares insights on emotional intelligence and well-being.
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