Eleven years ago, a tiny stray kitten wandered into the life of a woman named Anita Corrie Schellevis — and unknowingly began what would become the most unusual long-term project in her home.
The kitten, later named Cedric, had been rescued from the streets and given a safe, loving place to grow up. From the beginning, he proved to be an exceptional companion. Gentle, affectionate and surprisingly well-behaved, Cedric quickly became the kind of cat every pet parent dreams of having.
“He is the best cat I have ever had,” Schellevis said fondly. “He doesn’t touch or wreck anything.” Well… almost anything.
Because while Cedric may be a model house cat in most ways, there’s one spot in the house that has captured his attention — and held it for more than a decade. The banister at the top of the stairs.
Like most cat owners, Schellevis made sure Cedric had plenty of scratching posts around the house. There were several options available to help him keep his claws healthy and avoid damaging the furniture.
But Cedric had other plans. For reasons only he understands, the young cat decided that the smooth wooden banister at the top of the staircase would become his personal scratching post — and the place where he would focus all of his creative energy.
“He took to the post right away,” Schellevis recalled.
It all began back in 2012, when the once-perfect wooden banister first felt Cedric’s tiny claws. At the time, it probably seemed like nothing more than a minor nuisance — the kind of thing many cat owners deal with from time to time. But Cedric didn’t stop.
Day after day.
Month after month.
Year after year.
The same spot kept calling him back.
With patient dedication that would rival any artist working on a lifelong project, Cedric continued scratching the banister again and again, slowly shaping the wood with thousands of tiny claw marks.
What began as a small patch of wear gradually evolved into something far more remarkable.
Over eleven years, the once-straight banister has transformed into a smooth, sculpted curve — a strangely beautiful piece of accidental art carved entirely by Cedric’s claws. The wood has been worn down in a way that almost looks intentional, as if a skilled sculptor had carefully shaped it over time. Of course, Cedric probably never set out to create a masterpiece.
He was simply doing what cats do — stretching, scratching and claiming his favorite spot in the house.
But looking at the banister today, it’s hard not to admire the dedication behind it. What once was a pristine piece of woodwork is now a one-of-a-kind reminder of Cedric’s life in the home — a quirky, claw-carved monument to more than a decade of daily routines.
And honestly, Schellevis wouldn’t have it any other way. Because every mark tells part of Cedric’s story — the story of a once-stray kitten who grew into a beloved family member… and accidentally became an artist along the way. 🐱🎨