Cats Can Paint?

There are skeptics out there trying to decipher the truth of certain pieces of literature claiming that cats, our furry mischievous feline friends, can paint. There are also stern believers of this phenomenon, and even those who sell and purchase original works of art created by cats. Wow.

Apparently, though it is an amazing talent that most likely every pet owner wishes to uncover, less than 1% of the entire cat population possesses the capacity and desire to pull off these magnificent cat masterpieces. There are even visual tests and a series of compiled questions designed to discover whether your cat may have what it takes to unleash his inner creative compulsions.

Perhaps even more interesting is the fact that there is good reason backing the theory of painting cats. About 60% of all cats mark their territory by scratching or spraying either the earth (litter) or trees (couches). Cats are known to use their front paws to scrape at such surfaces while deliberately leaving their feces or urine as scented markings to warn other cats. Since (non-toxic, scented) acrylic paint has a similar aroma to that of the ammonia in cat urine, some cats will mark the earth with it the exact same way as they would with their own bodily excretions.

If you are able to mix some of your cats urine in with the paint, it will be that much more likely to use the acrylic colors to mark.to paint. This is where it is acknowledged that in time, your cat will eventually come to visually recognize its markings as relatively as its own scent, and can, also in time, refine its aesthetic distinction.

After reviewing many paintings created by some of the most successful painting cats in societys awareness right now, it is remarkable to note that there were some powerful similarities between all of the paintings. One of the more prominent aspects that stood out is the fact that cats seem to color coordinate during their visual expression. When given a palette of eight colors, the final product would only be comprised of three, for example. Also the colors seem to migrate with a gradient pattern; for example, if the painting consisted mainly of vertical paw strokes, the color scheme would transfer neatly from left to right (i.e. yellow to white to blue). Another common characteristic is the use of paw strokes at the same angle and direction, painted with consistency, and then detailed with a few paw smudges or prints.

There is no doubt that witnessing a documentation of cats working in a medium created by humans and practicing a technique reserved only for a civilized primate species is interesting. It is actually quite amusing in many regards, and to some it is dumbfounding or simply unbelievable. Still, for others, cats that paint give enthusiasts and cat lovers another avenue to dive head first into a parallel connection between man and his feline companion.

There are pieces of literature that have recently emerged literally detailing and classifying the types of artwork these painting cats are creating, such as spontaneous reductionist or neo-synthesist. These cat creations are even titled and sold as masterful works of precious and unique art. Of course, all quirks find their fans. It may be a far kitty treat to fetch, but the rise of this has just begun. Due to the increased monetary value these works of art are being sold for, it is expected that the number up upcoming cat artists will dramatically increase over the next few years. The idea sure does make for an interesting conversation. And whether you believe it or not, stranger things have happened.