Art to Memorialize Cat

I am not sure if this is considered the right forum so please let me know if I should post somewhere else. I wanted to share an idea that I have to help memorialize my cat. She has been diagnosed with lymphoma and the vet says we might have a few months. Right now she is active and somewhat normal so this would be a great time to do this.

My husband is an artist so instead of getting a paw print to sit on the mantel or in a box somewhere I had an idea of getting a big canvas and putting paint on the cat’s paws and have her walk across in different colors. The paint is going to be non-toxic of course and I will make sure to clean her paws well afterwards and also make sure she doesn’t lick the paint. It might be neat to see what she does, even if she doesn’t walk across the canvas but slings paint everywhere it will be a representation of her that we can hang on our walls.

Either way, this way we will always have this awesome piece of art that will make us smile when she is no longer with us.

I absolutely LOVE that idea! I'm so glad you have some time to spend with your little one and will be able to say goodbye. Please treasure every moment you have together, you never know when the time will come, and it always does way too soon. Bless you for loving so much and giving us a great idea.  PS I'm sure the first time you 'paint' her feet it WILL be flung all over, make sure she doesn't get all over your couch! 

I imagine we are going to look like a Jackson Pollock painting once we are done with this little project. 

We were planning on doing this on our deck with a tarp and wearing old clothes. I think its going to be a lot of fun (I hope so anyway). 

perfect idea! There's a game on the ipad my son has, and he turns it on and a mouse or something runs around and when the kitty paws at it..it leaves colors as if the kitty is painting

Aw, that sounds so sweet, and a wonderful, comforting memorial for you! I hope we can see the art when it's completed. 

MnM said:

perfect idea! There's a game on the ipad my son has, and he turns it on and a mouse or something runs around and when the kitty paws at it..it leaves colors as if the kitty is painting

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Oh, I know that game! Very cool! -

That is such a sweet idea for your kitty and your memories

That sounds like an awesome idea.

In my experience, the cats I've met were very unhappy with too much paw handling. Perhaps instead of using a normal paint, if there's a chance of her grooming herself first or getting the missing spots after she's been cleaned up, you can use a baby finger paint kind of recipe. A lot of parents use homemade stuff since then you can guarantee what's in it. I have a friend who made an edible baby paint for her toddler when he was just a little one, so it was like baby food with food colouring. I'm not sure what she used to keep it, since I would be afraid of spoilage, but maybe you can use a regular fixative or varnish.

@pinkdagger My husband is looking into paint that would be safe to use for this.I will mention baby paint and see what he thinks since he does this type of thing for a living. We are thinking its the same type of situation of putting paint on a person for art but with a twist.  I think we can make sure that she doesn't groom herself and out of all the things my cat has issues with, her paws are not one of them.

If it doesn't work I think we will at least be a great story/memory.