St. Jeoffry, Handmade Statue, “He Purrs in Thankfulness”: Patron of Cats and Cat-Lovers

This is a handmade statue of Jeoffry, a cat who for years was the companion to the English poet Christopher Smart, and who brought the poet peace, hope, and delight in a very hard time. I designed, carved, and cast the piece in lead-free pewter. Inscribed on the base of the statue is the line "He purrs in thankfulness," taken from a poem Smart wrote about Jeoffry. The back of the statue has a small receptacle that holds a scroll that reads:  "The English poet Christopher Smart (1722–1771) was confined for years (possibly for a touch of “lunacy”) with one companion: a cat he named Jeoffry. One of Smart’s finest poems, 'Jubilate Agno,' contains a long, loving section on Jeoffry and the extraordinary companionship and hope that he brought to the poet’s life. Some random lines: 'For every house is incomplete without him and a blessing is lacking in the spirit. For I perceived God's light about him both wax and fire. For he purrs in thankfulness, when God tells him he's a good Cat....' This