Cat-lover and photographer Monika Malek is on a mission. She wishes to change the way people think about disabled cats and show that they are just as wonderful as any other ‘able-bodied’ feline.
Talking about her I Am Still A Cat project, Monika says: “The goal is to bridge the gap between people’s perception of able-bodied and disabled cats. This is my attempt to show people that a disability does not mean that a cat is inferior. A disabled cat doesn’t require care 24 hours a day, the same as an able-bodied cat. He eats the same amount. He plays the same way. Meows, as well, and purrs the same,” she writes.
Monika photographs her cat models getting up to the usual feline antics, and by doing so she shows that despite their disabilities and illnesses, these cats are just like any other.
“My name is Kazik. I am 5 years old. I do not have a leg, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Amber. I am a year and two months old. I don’t have one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Ficus. I am 5 years old. I do not have a leg, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Marcel. I am 8 years old. I have leukemia, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Simba. I am 1.5 years old. I do not have a leg, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Szafir. I am 2 years old. I don’t have one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Citek. I am 6.5 years old. I don’t have one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Sherlock. I am a year old. I don’t have one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Lulek. I am two years old. I have short feet, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Rufus. I am a year old. I don’t have a tail, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Kumiko. I am 7 years old. I can’t see in one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Cmyk. I am 5 years old. I cannot hear, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Kiara. I am 9 years old. I have leukemia, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Keiko. I am 2.5 years old. I don’t have legs, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Shia. I am 9 months old. I do not have a tail, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Rapidka. I am two years old. I don’t have one eye, but I’m still a cat.”
“My name is Kacper. I am 2.5 years old. I can not hear, but I’m still a cat.”
See more of Monika’s I Am Still A Cat project here. You can also see more of her work on Facebook and her website.