#Studiocat Lessons

July 2021

My cat and I share the studio. We both use the art table because it has the best light in the house. I can’t come between my cat and the warm glorious sun rays through a window. She is also a watch cat: the art table is the best perch to watch the outside world.

Here are five lessons I’ve learned from sharing my art space with my feline friend.

Lesson #1

One may share the water bowl from time to time (or all the time), but I got the cat her own bowl. She doesn’t need to be drinking water with possible chemicals or who-knows-what from the artist’s water bowl. Cover or move the art water bowl so she doesn’t have access.

Lesson #2

Leave room for the kitters, somewhere, on the table to sleep. Of course, the area depends on the size of the cat and the various sleeping poses. Other options: position tall cat trees near the window, a cat ledges suction cupped to the window (not an option for this one), access to a “catio”, or the cat’s own table close by.

Lesson #3

If an artist cat owner is allowing this behavior, one will have to accept the cat hair in/on everything. There will be cat hair in your brushes, paint trays, any container on the table, and (obviously) the table top. Clean the area regularly, add “cat hair included” to all art shipments, and perhaps craft with the collected cat hair. This is a real thing!

Lesson #4

If your cat is a lap cat, get the cat their own chair. Painting with a cat in one’s lap is tricky. Your wrist becomes a toy. The brush becomes a game of chase. Petting a cat and painting at the same time is as hard at patting your head and rubbing your belly at the same time. You might be able to get the hang of it, but as soon as you do, you’ll loose it!

Lesson #5

Even with all the lessons learned from my feline studio mate, I’m still a softy. I bend all the rules and lessons. I love her company, cute sleeping face, watching her curiosity, and how she walks around like she owns the place.