For acclaimed artist Gary Baseman, a remarkable black cat named Bosko didn't just enter his life—he soared into it, delivering the creative from a period of profound sorrow and becoming an unforgettable aerial muse.
From a Backyard Colony to a BAFTA-Winning Muse
Baseman's deep connection with black cats began after he moved from New York to Los Angeles in 1996, discovering four feral black cats in his yard. This soon grew into a colony of 13. His artistic career, which includes creating merchandise toys and the Emmy and BAFTA-winning TV series Teacher's Pet, was long inspired by a scholarly cat named Blackie, who acted as his alter ego for 15 years.
When Blackie passed away from illness in 2020, Baseman was devastated, grieving for a full year before feeling ready to welcome another cat. The turning point came in 2021 when a fan who was fostering three black kittens arranged a visit. Baseman felt an instant bond with one particular cat, originally named Inkwell or Inkpot, whom he renamed Bosko after the nostalgic Bosco chocolate syrup brand.
The Acrobat Who Reignited a Creative Spirit
Bosko was no ordinary feline. He possessed immense youth and energy, coupled with a surprisingly tiny purr. His most astonishing trait was his preternatural athleticism. Bosko could leap up to seven feet in the air, darting across rooms and landing on Baseman's shoulders with the grace of an aerialist.
"I always knew when he was about to do it," Baseman recalls, "because he would stare at me intensely before launching himself towards the ceiling. He was like an athlete, agile and adventurous." This extraordinary behaviour earned him the title of the "flying cat."
At the time, Baseman's art was heavily focused on themes of grief and remembrance, particularly of his late parents, who were Holocaust survivors. Bosko's vibrant, playful energy acted as a powerful antidote. The cat became a central muse, infusing Baseman's work with a renewed lust for life and the thrill of play. He featured in whimsical drawings, from sipping chocolate syrup to sketches about his single missing white whisker. Their shared selfies and videos of his acrobatics captivated a large online following.
A Sudden Goodbye and an Enduring Legacy
In a tragic turn in January 2024, Baseman returned from a sunrise hike to find Bosko lifeless on his bed. Despite frantic efforts, including administering mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a car en route to a Beverly Hills vet, the vibrant cat could not be revived.
Heartbroken, Baseman cradled his body, savouring their final moments together. The loss was seismic, but Bosko's legacy proved indelible. He is remembered as the "world's greatest flying cat," who gave his owner's creativity a vital new lease of life. While Baseman has since adopted two more black cats, Bosko's unique spirit remains an unforgettable chapter—a tiny, leaping force that lifted an artist from grief and back into the joyful fray of creation.
