Vincent Van Meow

October 21, 2009 8:52 AM

How can I turn my furry kids into purring Picassos?

I'd like to find a safe, easy to clean up way to have my kittens "paint" by applying some sort of paint to their paws and having them walk across canvas or paper.

Questions I have:
What can I use that is safe for them to lick off their paws afterwards?

Also, what is something easy to clean up off of a hardwood floor or a couch? I'm looking for something that doesn't stain.

I doubt I'm the first cat-obsessed person to try this, so any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

posted by elder18 to pets & animals (21 comments total)

Children's finger-paint is nontoxic. I wouldn't recommend letting them eat a ton of it, but leaving a little on the paws that they will eat is unlikely to harm them.
posted by Electrius at 8:58 AM on October 21

just because it's nontoxic for humans, doesn't mean it's nontoxic for pets.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:07 AM on October 21 [5 favorites]

That's my concern.
posted by elder18 at 9:07 AM on October 21

Why not make something with food coloring and some sort of edible powder like flour? If you spray it hairspray afterward the "paint" should stay put.
posted by kthxbi at 9:11 AM on October 21

Perhaps call their vet and ask. I know you mean well and just want to do something creative, but this sort of seems like a bad idea.

I don't think you're going to get them to cooperate by having them simply walk across paper or canvas. As soon as anything is on their paws, they are going to stop and furiously try to lick it off.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:14 AM on October 21 [1 favorite]

These edible paint recipes might help.

Also, I hope you document this process and so the internet can witness.
posted by Lieber Frau at 9:15 AM on October 21

There are plenty of recipes for finger paint using kitchen ingredients like these. Should be easy and harmless. Probably not as good on the stain-free front.
posted by Lazlo Hollyfeld at 9:16 AM on October 21

Food coloring will stain other things like some floors/carpets/furniture/surfaces.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:17 AM on October 21

Could you use food that will stain? Like tomato paste or blended split pea soup or cranberry juice.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 9:19 AM on October 21

Thanks for the tips. Obviously, being safe for the kitties takes precedence over being stain-free. We can always cover stuff up.
posted by elder18 at 9:19 AM on October 21

Tomatoes are poisonous to cats! A quick google search says cranberries have phenols their livers can't handle.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:22 AM on October 21

and pea soup could contain onion or garlic, which are both no good for cats.
posted by jerseygirl at 9:23 AM on October 21

Unless the *paint* is animal or some safe plant derived - do NOT use it. As Jerseygirl said - just because it's safe for humans, does not mean that it can't have an adverse effect on the cats.

Suggestions -
for red use meat drippings with some added tomato paste
green -- you can use Spirulina and water
yellow -- powdered calendula with some added vegetable glycerin

Use a polyurethane spray (sprayed outdoors away from the picassos) to seal it all in.
posted by watercarrier at 9:26 AM on October 21

I'm not as concerned with "aesthetic merit" as much as doing something fun that might stimulate my little kitties, myself, and my wife. This isn't designed to be an art project or anything.

I think the term "staggeringly stupid" is out of line and not constructive. The reason I asked this question is to get feedback from others about how to safely do it. Not to be insulted. If I don't think it's safe, or my cats are clearly not interested in going along, then I won't do it.

As for the others, who have provided respectable suggestions, thanks again.
posted by elder18 at 9:38 AM on October 21 [1 favorite]

The Museum of Non Primate Art has a (tongue-in-cheek) page on cats that paint. If you decide painting with your cats won't work, you might find that a fun page to poke around.
posted by divka at 9:45 AM on October 21

[A few comments removed. Folks, specific caveats about food-safety and such are great but please lay off the more judgmental stuff.]
posted by cortex at 10:12 AM on October 21

How about an intaglio-style thing?

1. soak a paper towel in food coloring or some other dye
2. place a light piece of paper on top of the towel
3. cover the paper with some kind of light, flexible plastic that the dye won't seep through
4. have the cat walk across the plastic, thereby pressing the paper into the dye and leaving footprints

Then there's no need to worry about stuff getting on the paws; you just need to make sure the cat doesn't claw through the plastic.
posted by equalpants at 10:13 AM on October 21 [5 favorites]

There is a company that makes a "kitty-casso" Cat painting kit that does nearly exactly what equalpants recommended, but with acrylic paints. Here's a link:

http://www.art-casso.com/unique-cat-gifts.htm
posted by XcentricOrbit at 10:45 AM on October 21

beet juice is a lovely colour
posted by 5_13_23_42_69_666 at 11:01 AM on October 21

Could you use plain water, then sprinkle something onto the wet paw tracks before they dry?
posted by twistofrhyme at 11:47 AM on October 21 [1 favorite]

You could have them walk across goldenrod paper, which changes color in response to the presence of mild bases (which is what they leave behind in litterboxes).

(My cats have produced charcoal prints on three-dimensional fabric structures [living room sofa] after they explored the fireplace ashes, the artistic merit of which I failed to appreciate).
posted by jamaro at 12:28 PM on October 21 [1 favorite]