Why Cats Paint (Hardcover)

by Heather Busch (Author) "In 1990 a dramatic discovery was made by an Australian archeological team working in the tomb of Vizir Aperia, just beyond the west bank of..." (more)
Key Phrases: cat painting, marking behavior, cat art, Wong Wong, Van Gogh, Book of Kells (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Cats overwhelmingly favor abstract expressionism, and none imitates Andrew Wyeth...it nails the pretentiousness of art criticism to the wall. -- Newsweek --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
The National Examiner featured “Pussycat Picassos” claiming that “feline paintings will make you paws” and calling the book “captivating.”


From the Trade Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1 pages
• Publisher: Ten Speed Press (May 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0898156238
• ISBN-13: 978-0898156232
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,375,064 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars If you love art and have a sense of humor, October 30, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Paperback)

My undergraduate work was in Fine Arts and Art History so I found this book hysterical. The writing style mimics most art criticism and art history pieces, so if you're familiar with that genre, you'll appreciate the genius of this book. It pokes fun at art critism while playing on most people's bafflement as to what constitutes art. This book is a joke, although it's so flawlessly constructed you can't be sure at first. The cat metaphor makes a great commentary on the ridiculousness of much art writing. Even if you've never been forced to read ridiculous art criticism, you'll appreciate this book if you love cats. This review is in memory of "Teenie" (1992-2000), my little calico girl.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The cat's meow, April 29, 2004

By	FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Paperback)

The first time I saw this book, I thought it was such a riot that I couldn't stop laughing. But then, as the pages progressed, a small thought crept over me -- 'could this be serious?'

I am a person owned by cats - if one includes the kittens, I've had 19 cats officially (and another half-dozen stray hangers-on who know that food will be forthcoming). It had never occurred to me to give them paint! What would happen if I did?

The photography in the book is impressive. Working with children or animals in the best of settings is never easy for a photographer, but Heather Busch is to be commended for bravery, patience, and creativity that obviously rivals the cat-subjects of the text. Stunning colour shows not only the cats' creations, but the cats themselves, often matching their artistic styles in body as well as spirit (for example, Rusty, the orange tabby, likes to paint in a rustic manner; Wong and Lulu collaborate on interesting abstractions, etc.).

The text is written with ironic skill and creative flair by Burton Silver (cats may paint, but have yet to write...). Silver (the name of one of my cats, by the way) is a writer and art critic based in New Zealand, having written on subjects such as contemporary erotic Japanese paper sculpture.

In addition to going through a contemporary survey, the authors look at the history of cat art (including a Xois funerary discovery, ancient Egyptian art, medieval illuminations, and more). It also looks at the psychology of why cats paint (hence the title) -- the fascinating theory of Invertism is a case in point, which explains why cats lie on their heads looking at objects upside down approximately 3% of the day.

A funny book. A fascinating book. A beautiful book. My cats each give it paws up!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant, July 18, 2003

By	Author Brian Wallace (Mind Transmission, Inc.) (Texas) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This review is from: Why Cats Paint: A Theory of Feline Aesthetics (Paperback)

If Christopher Guest dove into book writing and concepting I'm not sure that even his brilliance could touch the amazing, hysterically funny work contained within these pages. With so many touchy feely works on pets and art, this one is a refreshing work that manages to come across as both parody and respect. I love cats but I also love irony and satire: exactly the elements that Guest so deftly blends in his movies.

I cower at the utter absurdity and genius of abstract art in general and this rare little gem of a book.

Bravo!!!