For acclaimed artist Gary Baseman, the profound bond with a pet has the power to reshape a life and redefine creativity. His story centres on Bosko, an extraordinary black cat whose athletic prowess and vibrant spirit lifted the artist from a period of deep mourning and infused his work with a renewed passion for life.
From Loss to an Instant Connection
Baseman, the creator behind the Emmy and Bafta-winning series Teacher's Pet, had long found inspiration in his feline companions. For 15 years, his cat Blackie was a scholarly muse and his artistic alter ego. When Blackie died from illness in 2020, Baseman was devastated, grieving for a full year before feeling ready for another cat. The turning point came in 2021 when a fan who was fostering three black kittens arranged a visit.
"I had an instant connection with one cat in particular," Baseman recalls. Originally named Inkwell or Inkpot, the kitten was renamed Bosko after the nostalgic American chocolate syrup, Bosco. This new companion would soon prove to be far from ordinary.
The World's Greatest Flying Cat
Bosko was a whirlwind of playful energy with a surprisingly tiny purr. His most astonishing trait was his gravity-defying athleticism. He could leap up to 7ft in the air, darting across rooms and landing on Baseman's shoulders with the grace of an acrobat. "It looked as if he was flying," says Baseman. The artist learned to anticipate these spectacular jumps, as Bosko would fix him with an intense stare just before launching himself towards the ceiling.
This dynamic cat quickly became a central muse. At the time, Baseman's art was heavily influenced by themes of grief and remembrance, particularly of his late parents who were Holocaust survivors. Bosko's infectious vitality changed that. "Bosko ignited the feeling of being alive again," Baseman explains. The cat's lust for life and love of play began to permeate the artist's work, leading to joyful sketches of Bosko drinking chocolate syrup and comedic drawings about his single missing white whisker.
A Sudden Goodbye and a Lasting Legacy
The joyous chapter ended abruptly in January 2024. Returning home from a sunrise hike, Baseman discovered Bosko lifeless on his bed. Rushed to a vet in Beverly Hills while frantically attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, nothing could be done to save him. Baseman cradled his companion's body, overwhelmed by shock, wanting to savour their final moments together.
Though he has since adopted two more black cats, Bosko holds a unique place in his heart. Baseman will forever remember him as "the world's greatest flying cat," the extraordinary pet who gave his creativity a vital new lease of life and delivered him from the shadows of grief. The legacy of that powerful connection continues to inspire.
