The Controversy Over Painting Your Cat

There is still a great deal of controversy brewing over a book, published in 2002, entitled 'Why Paint Cats'. The book, authored by Burton Silver and Heather Busch, features the common cat, as a living object of art.

The idea for this book came about after publication of the book, 'Why Cats Paint', which showcased feline's who actually put their paint soaked paw to canvas. (What will they think of next?)

The act of painting one's cat is so far-fetched to some, they believe that the photos, featured in 'Why Paint Cats', are simply digitally enhanced pictures. After all, who in their right mind would PAINT their cat?

Some owners have painted their cats in effort to scare birds away, as a means to blend them into their gardens or home décor and even to alert neighbors that the cat is blind or deaf.

In fact, this issue is one which has caused an uproar among those fighting against animal cruelty. Although cats are likely to indicate their displeasure, while being painted, by clawing or biting the artist... they cannot refuse to be painted. They cannot object to becoming a walking billboard, of sorts.

These same advocates feel that a painted cat is simply hideous. And furthermore if the powers that be intended a cat to look like a clown, flag, butterfly, or to mimic the pattern of a Scottish kilt, it would be born that way.

They will tell you that the thousands of dollars spent on this 'artistic endeavor', could be much better spent on things like the support and upkeep of animal shelters and providing low or no cost spaying and neutering to pet owners who cannot afford to have this procedure done.

There are a number of cat lovers who feel that painting a cat is the 'in thing' to do. (It has been reported that some cat owners have actually paid up to $15,000, to have their cat painted, up to four times per year.) They will tell you that the medium used to paint each cat is non-toxic vegetable dye and very safe, indeed.

The artists will tell you that it is just another form of artistic expression, similar to tattooing but far less painful. The painted cats are no worse, for the wear. Most of these paint jobs are done in several, short, sessions... usually around 30 minutes each.

Painting your cat is a sensitive issue. It's up to you, as a pet owner, to decide whether or not this is in the best interest of your cat.