Lorenzo the cat

Lorenzo the cat is an internationally recognized feline model. This cat is a cultural icon in Miami appearing in the Miami Herald, New York Daily News, Boston Globe, Seattle Times, Times of India, Yahoo! News, Univision, several talk shows and more. Lorenzo the cat has his own YouTube channel, Facebook following, and has become more than a mere pet. Lorenzo modeling has been featured on the Today Show website and Associated Press. Lorenzo has been described as "A social networking star with all the dignity of a royal feline" by the USA Today.

Overview and history

Lorenzo's was abandoned at birth and left in a trash can. Four weeks later, he was adopted by Joann Biondi, a writer and photographer for several recognized publications including the Miami Herald. It was shortly after that when Lorenzo began making his first appearances on mayor news channels and fashion shows. Lorenzo's abilities were discovered purely by accident when Biondi made him wear a tank top one day as a punishment for stealing dirty clothes from the laundry basket and dragging them all around the apartment. According to Joann Biondi the owner of the Feline clothing model in an interview with CNN - "As it turned out, this was not a very effective punishment because Lorenzo was not fazed by the shirt. Quite to the contrary, he loved it! And thus, his modelling career was born".

According to MSNBC Today Now, at age five, Lorenzo is an "internationally recognized feline". He has pages on MySpace and Facebook, maintains ACTIVE accounts on both YouTube and Twitter, and has an online fan base consisting of thousands of followers from all over the world. His outfits often engage in both social and political commentaries as well as humor and fashion. These people regularly "cheer him on, ask his advice, and laugh at his wise guy antics" Also, Lorenzo's tastes have expanded beyond just tank tops. These days, he has his own personal tailor—Mr. Luigi of Tuscany—who hand sews all the clothes that the cat wears during his photo shoots.

Personal life

When Lorenzo is not in front of the camera, he enjoys just being a normal cat. He takes long naps in the sunshine with a good book (or sometimes on top of one), chases lizards, watches the water swirl in the toilet, and always makes sure to keep himself looking as handsome as possible. He also enjoys going for walks with his owner. The fact that he has a leash sometimes makes passersby laugh or do a double take, but Lorenzo pays them no mind. In fact, like any celebrity he tries his best to avoid the paparazzi. This can most likely be attributed not only to the fact that he is a celebrity, but also to the fact that he is a Maine coon, a breed which is very loving towards their owners but can by shy around new people. Overall, Lorenzo is a low-key and calm cat, making him easy to work with. Just as with his dislike of the paparazzi, Lorenzo's calm disposition can probably be traced back to his breed. According to petfinder.com, Maine coons are known for their intelligence and docility.

Although he is very popular with the ladies, Lorenzo is not available for breeding purposes. He is, however, available for print modelling sessions. For more info, please visit the official website.

Career

Despite Lorenzo's sweet personality and his eagerness to please, owner Biondi admits that sometimes Lorenzo's natural feline habits make the photography sessions more challenging. According to Lorenzo's website, the shoots can last up to a few weeks, or take just a few days. Everything depends on Lorenzo's level of cooperation. As Biondi acknowledges: "Although Lorenzo enjoys posing, he is still a cat, which means that during a shoot he often wants to chase lizards, tear down backdrops, groom his tail, or take a nap".

These are just some of the challenges that go hand in hand with working with any animal, not just cats. However, cats have a reputation (which is perhaps undeserved) for being disobedient, and highly independent. They are also known for being stubborn and extremely difficult to train. Biondi's photos of Lorenzo help to reverse this stereotype. It is possible that Lorenzo could just be an exception to the general rule. However, it is just as likely that there are other cats out there who are very much like Lorenzo, and who are just as easily trainable and eager to please.

Recognition

In spite of the difficulties which sometimes arise from working with Lorenzo, the effort has certainly been well worth it. Biondi's intriguing artwork has been widely recognized, and has been displayed in several galleries and art museums up and down the East Coast. The photographs have been described as "a testament to the inherent beauty in the feline form. They spark the imagination, force us to smile, and speak to the bond among all sentient beings. And they are thump on the head to anyone who believes that animals don't have souls.

Lorenzo has been recognized in several different forms of media, from local papers to international television networks. Some of the feline's many publication credits include: