There’s nothing feminine about having a pussy!
A new book of portraits aims to demonstrate that masculinity and kitty-cats are a purr-fect combination. The photographer behind “Men with Cats,” launching at Powerhouse Arena in Dumbo on Feb. 11, says that male cat-owners are just regular Joes who enjoy a warm cuddle from time to time.
“I just wanted to show that guys can own cats and be completely normal dudes,” said feline enthusiast David Williams. The Sunset Park photographer, who owns two kitties, Margo and Tux, wants to debunk the crazy cat lady (and “cat gent”) stereotype, and show that furballs are not always owned by loony single people.
His book includes more than 75 photos of men posing with their kitties, each with a quote that describes what cat-life is like for the men. For instance, one completely normal, masculine dude describes his cat by saying: “Sneezle is the alpha male in our house. He’s large and in charge, and he does what he wants. He’s a great cat, but a terrible kitty.”
Williams started “Men with Cats” as a casual project in 2009, shooting friends and friends-of-friends with their kitties. But the feline photos went viral in early 2015, popping up on websites including Huffington Post and Cosmopolitan. So the project expanded, eventually including men California, Colorado, and Georgia as well as New York City residents.
Even though he is mad for cats, Williams says that he loves dogs equally. But cats are easier to take care of in the city, and they are not picky about who they give their heart to, he claims.
“It doesn’t matter your gender, I think a cat is going to love you no matter what as long as you feed them,” said Williams, who has clearly had a very different experience with feline affection than many people.
The book launch on Thursday will also feature an appearance by the male co-owner of Manhattan’s Koneko Cat Cafe.
“Men with Cats” talk at Powerhouse Arena [37 Main St. at Water Street in Dumbo, www.power
