Artists debate the ancient discipline of keeping their cats from playfully destroying their creations, turned into a masterclass of this fine feline art every beginner should learn.

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jun 2, 2026 10:15 AM EDT

The life of an artist is hard enough, but the life of an artist cat parent is even harder.

You don't know to what extent people have to go just to have a cat live at home with them. People think having a cat is easy, because they're "independent" or something. These people have clearly never had a cat for once in their lives. Cats are extremely social, and this "independent" bullsheep is an ignorant stereotype. That's why every time a cat pawrent takes on a new hobby or activity, the household cat takes it upon themselves to be part of the process and participate. Just ask any artist - which is exactly what artists on wetcanvas talked about.

It's a question as old as time (or at least as old as humanity domesticated cats) - how do we get them off our art supplies? Artists were helping other artists here, advising on the realm of paint and pets - but as we've said, this isn't a pawblem that artists deal alone with. Just take a look at a guitarist with a cat who worries about his gear, because even here, cats tend to take over the hobby. But they only do it because they love you and want to be part of whatever you do. That's wholesome.

Luckily for us, cat people, the online feline family is a worldwide source of cat knowledge filled with people who are always willing to help. Seriously, cat people are some of the nicest people. Also, they love sharing cat advice online because they know it'll also help another cat in the world. How to build a catio, how to train cats on leash walks, how to care for an abandoned kitten - the online cat community is already ready with answers.

But now? Let's focus on the artists among us.

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  • 01
    So, you have cats and you have paints and ...
    via auntchristine
  • 02
    Woman drawing on a canvas while a cat that was sitting on her shoulder jumps off her back, portrayed by human and feline models.
    via Drazen_

    Woman drawing on a canvas while a cat that was sitting on her shoulder jumps off her back, portrayed by human and feline models.

  • 03
    auntchristine I am digging through my supplies, setting up again, and am admiring my precious watercolor brushes, my paper, my supplies.
    via auntchristine
  • 04
    Cats are natural enemies of brushes. I wanted to keep my brushes close to me at all times to get familiar and comfortable with them again. No can do. Cats just love to chew them, pick them up and play toss.
    via auntchristine
  • 05
    And hair, cat hair getting into my paper. So, you have cats. How do you keep your brushes, paper, paints, supplies from the ravages of cat hair, playing cats, curious cats, chewing cats?
    via auntchristine
  • 06
    A woman stops drawing in the middle of the process because her cat jumped on her lap and demanded pets, personified by a couple of feline and human models.
    via annakraynova

    A woman stops drawing in the middle of the process because her cat jumped on her lap and demanded pets, personified by a couple of feline and human models.

  • 07
    sandge And hair, cat hair getting into my paper. You just became a mixed media artist!
    via sandge

  • Just imagine this as an intro to an artist's social media or a gallery showcase: “Hi, I'm a young artist in the beginning of my artistic journey. I like to paint, but I'm more of a mixed media artist. I never imagined I'd be one, but since I have a cat it just sort of happened… so I mainly use acrylics, oil colors, and cat hair. I also like to sculpt with clay. And cat hair. Because the cat hair just finds itself stuck onto my creations. So… yeah, mixed media artist. I have no choice. Also, excuse me, I have to go, my cat just knocked another drying brush into the bin. Thank you for listening, bye now.”

  • 08
    An orange cat is sitting on a table next to a painted canvas, represented by a model cat.
    via Irina Kononova's Images

    An orange cat is sitting on a table next to a painted canvas, represented by a model cat.

  • 09
    POLAR69 Not a problem here! My moggies either spend all day outside or just sleep in the window.....now if only kids were more like cats!
    via POLAR69
  • 10
    A man paints on a big canvas on the table while a kitten is sitting on the same canvas, both depicted by models.
    via Dusan Stankovic

    A man paints on a big canvas on the table while a kitten is sitting on the same canvas, both depicted by models.

  • 11
    auntchristine LOL, "mixed media" indeed! Studio is part of my living room so they live in here.
    via auntchristine
  • 12
    Going outside isn't an option- too dangerous in New York City (might get eaten by a rat or set afire by a human rat).
    via auntchristine
  • 13
    Most of my cats were hand raised, bottle fed orphans (yes I have a clowder here) and they are very attached to me. They want to be right in my face no matter what I'm doing.
    via auntchristine
  • 14
    Artist stops her work because her big orange cat walks across the table, portrayed by a cat model and a woman model.
    via Imgenes de Hassel

    Artist stops her work because her big orange cat walks across the table, portrayed by a cat model and a woman model.

  • 15
    Example, I have a painting on my board and am working on the sketch. I got up for just one minute to go elsewhere and returned to find Gilbert cat plopped right on the painting, looking very pleased with himself (you know that Chesire Cat look?)
    via auntchristine
  • 16
    can deal with that with my hand squirt bottles. But the brushes-how do I protect my brushes in my jars as they dry from cat teeth?
    via auntchristine
  • 17
    Woman sitting on the floor painting a large canvas, a cat sitting next to her curious about her paint tubes, embodied by a woman model and a cat model.
    via September15

    Woman sitting on the floor painting a large canvas, a cat sitting next to her curious about her paint tubes, embodied by a woman model and a cat model.

  • 18
    lunamoonshadow Well, I don't paint (I bead) but I do have to "hide" things from my cats-like cereal, or pastry, or pretty much anything I don't want them into-so I do put lots of stuff into metal cabinets....or
    via lunamoonshadow
  • 19
    the microwave, or sometimes even the oven to keep it out of kitty paws...& I'm not just talking food! I dried my big paintbrushes (from painting inside my apartment) in a jar under the bathroom sink & cliped the door open (has a spring-shut mechanism) with a hairclip for air circulation... Dunno if that helps or not!
    via lunamoonshadow
  • 20
    Cat peeking behind a canvas on an artist's work, looks very intrigued, represented by a model cat, not related to the content.
    via AbElena

    Cat peeking behind a canvas on an artist's work, looks very intrigued, represented by a model cat, not related to the content.

  • 21
    auntchristine Thanks, Lyn. Oh one of my cats would just love it if I took up beading or jewelry making. She cost me $1500.00 two months ago when she opened the door to my walk-in closet, then opened a rubbermaid storage box, and ate ribbon that I thought was securely put away. Nearly led her and put me in debt.
    via auntchristine
  • 22
    She chews everything that is dangly-destroyed two pair of roman shades (ate the pull cords), two venetian blinds (ate those cords), several sets of speakers and lamps (ate those cords) and every single draw string on any jacket I owned.
    via auntchristine
  • 23
    So she would just love me to string beads or sew. I do need to get a table top metal cabinet, nothing huge, just enough to hold the jars of brushes. I wonder if anyone makes that?
    via auntchristine
  • 24
    I've just decided I need to get myself a dust-buster hand vac to quickly clear away any flying hair (and yes I do vacuum daily anyway but it doesn't help).
    via auntchristine
  • 25
    Tattooed artist takes a break from painting in the studio to pet his cat on the table, the two are representing models for the picture.
    via cokada

    Tattooed artist takes a break from painting in the studio to pet his cat on the table, the two are representing models for the picture.

  • 26
    YLCIA My cat Olik preffers large toilet cleanning brushes to chew on So, now I have brushes with the lids on them.
    via YLCIA
  • 27
    But he does not touch my painting brushes or my paintings, he just vvveeeerryy carefully walks around my row of paintings standing on the floor and around my easel but never jumps on the table with brushes and paints.
    via YLCIA
  • 28
    He loves to chew the ribbons though and I went through the vet emergency once too with his chewing the harsh ribbon He also ruined my very expensive speakers but not by chewing but by scratching it Another thing he scatches is my berber carpeted stairs so he about to ruin a couple of them ... Other then that he is good:)
    via YLCIA
  • 29
    Woman sitting and drawing on a canvas, her cat on her lap is smelling the canvas way too close, illustrated by two models.
    via annakraynova

    Woman sitting and drawing on a canvas, her cat on her lap is smelling the canvas way too close, illustrated by two models.

  • 30
    prairie painter Okay, here's a homemade solution- get a pipe rack and attach it to the wall above where you paint, with L brackets. Keep the brushes in that. Too small for a cat to jump up on, and it'll keep the brushes
    via prairie painter
  • 31
    neat. Wish I could show you a picture of what I mean. I guess just cruise thrift shops until you find some single-row wooden pipe racks, you'll see what I mean.
    via prairie painter
  • 32
    My kitters wandered through a dish of Ultramarine and then went exploring my painting table. I love the blue piddy-paw prints!
    via prairie painter
  • 33
    Digital artist stops her work on the iPad to turn around and pet her cat, depicted by woman and cat models.
    via Frazao Studio Latino

    Digital artist stops her work on the iPad to turn around and pet her cat, depicted by woman and cat models.

  • 34
    Reignboblu Ha, the simplest answer is you don't. I have four cats, a husky and a boyfriend, plus two roomates with two cats in the three bedroom apartment. I am no confined to one table and we had a incident a few moths back where gary...the spaz of all
    via Reignboblu
  • 35
    the cats and one of my roomates yellow tabby cats decided to take a flying leap onto the table where my palette covered with a freshly squeezed out assortment of all my paints was sitting. he wore a paw full of black paint, but I caught him before he hit the carpet thank god.we scrubbed it out and he had a little residue, but not bad, considering.
    via Reignboblu
  • 36
    All of the canvases I prime myself get their fare share of cat hair, but mostly it works itself out in a few coats.
    via Reignboblu
  • 37
    Artist is drawing on a canvas while her orange cat on her lap looks at it with intent, embodied by a cat model and a woman model.
    via annakraynova

    Artist is drawing on a canvas while her orange cat on her lap looks at it with intent, embodied by a cat model and a woman model.

  • 38
    My brushes are different. I didn't spend the money on good brushes to have the cat or the demon dog eat them. They have their own home. The small synthetic or hog hair brushes go in a small tote, the big ones
    via Reignboblu
  • 39
    in a wrap and the nice sable brushes don't get used unless it's a major painting and they stay in their own tool box.The animals are crafty, but the lack of opposeable (sp?) thumbs still holds them back.
    via Reignboblu
  • 40
    Woman trying to paint mugs but is interrupted by her cat who hugs her hand, acted by human and feline models.
    via Gustavo Fring from Pexels

    Woman trying to paint mugs but is interrupted by her cat who hugs her hand, acted by human and feline models.

  • 41
    coolartsybabe My cats are pretty good at leaving my art supplies alone. Only one jumps up on my drawing table but only when it's empty and I'm not working at it. I always put everything out of paws way when I'm finished... don't want to tempt fate.
    via coolartsybabe
  • 42
    They do like to sit on my lap and watch me work or sit nearby and watch. Tofu loves to pose so I can draw her. She enjoys looking at the finished drawing of her.
    via coolartsybabe
  • 43
    When Boris was alive, he loved to pose for the camera and really enjoyed looking at his photos...he really could make the connection. When he saw me with a camera he'd strike a pose. Maybe he was a GQ model in a prior life?
    via coolartsybabe
  • 44
    Fritz just loves to watch me do artwork. Not all that interested in sitting still long enough for me to draw him though.
    via coolartsybabe
  • 45
    A top shot of an artist planning a sketch in a sketchbook while his cat lies down on the page and interrupts the process for pets, personified by two modeling subjects.
    via AGCreativeLab

    A top shot of an artist planning a sketch in a sketchbook while his cat lies down on the page and interrupts the process for pets, personified by two modeling subjects.

  • 46
    They've all been trained to stay away from my art supplies and other areas of my apartment by my clapping my hands and shouting "NO, NO!" when they had their noses too close. I tried the squirt gån thing but my cats just sat right where they were and gave me a look that said, “I cannot believe you just did that. to me How dare you!"
    via coolartsybabe
  • 47
    If I'm working with anything that would be too toxic for them to be around, like fixative sprays, I use it in a room with a door I can shut or outside. None of them can stand the smell of turpentine or oil paints so I have no problem keeping them away from that stuff. I have a hard time doing any art without a purring cat on my lap.
    via coolartsybabe
  • 48
    A painter sitting in front of a canvas with a black cat on her lap, the cat looks at the painting, both are models for the picture.
    via funebre

    A painter sitting in front of a canvas with a black cat on her lap, the cat looks at the painting, both are models for the picture.

  • 49
    auntchristine Thanks, Geri, I'll try to remember. I made room in my china cabinet and now I remember to put the brushes in their jar into the cabinet.
    via auntchristine
  • 50
    Here's Gilbert. As you can see, he settled down right on a small painting I was attempting (that was my WDE for May 22nd). Now I have to remember to stand that thing up even if I just go to use the toilet. Get aload of the smug look on his face.
    via auntchristine
  • 51
    Cheezburger Image 10634817280
    via auntchristine

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