My cats are handmade of clay and the colors and patterns are produced by an ancient method of firing called sawdust or "pit" firing. Once the piece has been bisque fired in a kiln, it is buried in sawdust and the sawdust is burned. The smoke from the sawdust produces the permanent colors in the clay. Sizes vary slightly and color patterns are random.

I am owned by one cat, Kaygee, which is short for "kiln god". It is a tradition among potters that a new kiln have a kiln god made of clay to ensure successful firings. Kaygee came marching through the woods on the day of the first firing of the new kiln...he has stayed to watch over the production ever since, and has been the inspiration for many of the Dewey cats.

Mary Gates Dewey...

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