Documenting the stray cat's strut

A charcoal cat's yellow eyes pierce anything that comes before it. Another cat sits proudly on the rocks that line the Bay staring out into the distance while the wind moves its coat.

These are a couple of photographs inside the Foster City Parks and Recreation Department that are part of a larger exhibit titled "Life on the Rocks." The photographs have documented the lives of the stray and feral cats that live on a half-mile stretch of the Foster City Bay Trail.

"Taking photographs of these cats was like meditation to me," said professional photographer Robert Barbutti. "I had just moved back to Foster City from Santa Cruz and the levee was a place where I would come to exercise and relax. Once I noticed that all these cats were out here existing, I decided to take photographs of them because they are so gorgeous."

But it wasn't the quality of work that came out of documenting their existence that led up to this exhibit; rather it was when Barbutti saw a cat feeder.

After realizing there was someone out there taking care of the cats, Barbutti said he called the organization that put their sign on the feeder and his relationship with Project Bay Cat was born.

Barbutti got in touch with Cimeron Morrissey from Project Bay Cat and told her he had some photos of the cats that maybe she could use for their Web site.

"When she saw the shots and how much passion went into them an art show came up as a way to help," Barbutti said.

But it almost didn't happen. When Morrissey called to organize something with the city it was discovered that there was no space available until next year. That was until an artist suddenly pulled out of their slot, which gave Barbutti a week to put together the exhibit.

On the night of the exhibit's reception, Project Bay Cat brought in a particular feline Barbutti has been photographing since he started three years ago.

"I see most of them on a regular basis but when they brought this one in during the reception I got to hold her in my arms and it was really nice."

Project Bay Cat not only brought that cat in for Barbutti, it was mostly for the cat's benefit. The organization not only feeds the 135 or so cats living on the water's edge, they catch the cats too. They are then brought to veterinarians who will spay and neuter them for free or next to nothing. They also try to find adoptive homes for the cats.

If a home can't be found they let them go back to their life on the rocks but not before clipping their ears to help track them.

"It's great to see the local involvement in this," Barbutti said. "There are 1,700 responses on the Web site alone and that's only local. I've received phone calls from people who were so impressed they were almost in tears, it's pretty rewarding."

Through this exhibit alone, Project Bay Cat raised about $1,500 for their cause and will continue to do so though April 28.

The exhibit is in Foster City's Parks and Recreation Department at 650 Shell Blvd. For more information about how you can help Project Bay Cat go to www.homelesscatnetwork.org. For more information on Barbutti go to robertbarbuttiphotagraphy.com.