I painted this portrait of my kitty and his raccoon toy when Murry was almost three months old. It wasn't long after Murry joined the family that he claimed the toy as his own, a remarkable feat since it was big brother Fred's favorite squeaky toy and Murry simple took it away from him. Fred, you see, is indeed Murry's big -- as in very large dog -- brother. The raccoon toy is still Murry's prized possession and he still takes it away from Fred if he tries to play with it. Murry loves his brother and they are best buddies, but as Murry showed me from that very early age, he is, and always will be, the boss.

© 2006 Patty Jacobs