Any animal is unsure of a new place. How they react to it is different depending on animal breed and species, specifically dogs vs. cats. Dogs more or less will tend to rush in and scope out the studio and keep moving while cats will slink around and crawl under something to hide—be it a couch ion the front area or behind the backdrops.
No matter how super laid back and cool you think your cat is it is a whole new ball game bringing them to a place where they can smell other people and animals. That’s why we never rush animal portraits and let them have time to find their way around and decide what works for them. Especially with cats. They more or less will come when they feel like it while dogs can often be coaxed with a snack.
This guy was not an active player—he didn’t care much for string or toys or even boxes for that matter. But when it came to creating his portrait he was okay with the blanket his owner brought—it smelled familiar and he was okay getting up on it. So really you have to go with what the animal gravitates towards—you cannot force an animal to do something for a portrait—especially a cat—they must come and do things on their own terms. A dog you can promise a walk or treats and they will often perform as desired but it’s not normally the case for cats.
That’s why for cat portraits we strongly recommend bringing throws or blankets that they love. Familiarity usually helps calm an animal. Doesn’t hurt either to have blankets or clothing in colors that match the cat—this really brings out the coloring in their portrait.
Have a cat or two you’d like a portrait of? Email us or call @719.475.0160 and we’ll discuss various options for your portrait.