8 Places my cats would rather look instead of the camera
I know I don’t have to tell you how challenging capturing a great cat photo can be. First you have to catch them in the perfect position, hope they remain in that position while you grab your camera, and then they need to actually look squarely at the camera at the exact moment you’re ready to snap the photo. My friends, that is a rare trifecta.
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I know sometimes we want an artsy photo in which the cat isn’t looking directly into the camera, and those are easier to come by. However, sometimes I just want a nice photo of the cat looking straight at me — is that too much to ask? Silly question, I know.
Here are eight places my cats would rather look instead of the camera.
1. A bag
The whole thing about cats being curious? Yeah, that’s true. If there’s a bag anywhere near the spot where I’m trying to land a photo, I’m toast. That is, unless the cat happens to not see the bag, which is highly unlikely.
2. Food
Cats think everything is for them. Getting them to pose with food is next to impossible, although the photo of Phoebe actually became funnier when she looked away and focused on the cupcakes. For posts I’ve written, I’ve tried to pose a cat beside food, and it’s really just a lost cause. Food wins every time … but I suppose it’s the same for me.
3. Each other
My cats rarely snuggle, so when they’re lying anywhere near each other, I run for the camera. I don’t often get the shot I was anticipating because they start swatting at each other. I swear they’re like kids fighting in the back seat of a car. “Mom, tell him to stop touching me!” So the story goes … I don’t get the happy cuddle-pic, but I do get some funny action shots.
4. The wall
The ultimate “screw you” is the complete about-face. The cat is so not going to cooperate, so I might as well put away the camera and find something else to do.
5. Their butt
Cats have no shame. They’ll hike up that back leg and go to town at the most inopportune times. This nearly always happens when I have friends over for dinner. Thankfully, most of my friends are cat lovers so they totally get it. It’s like cats have this magical sense for knowing when it would be most inappropriate or annoying to begin detailing their butts. Like when I want to take their photo.
6. The ground
So I’m all ready to snag the perfect shot and kitty suddenly becomes completely captivated with something on the ground. And there’s nothing there. Maybe she wants to appear busy- you know, like I’m inconveniencing her — taking time away from the important business of floor-looking. It’s kind of like when we pretend we’re checking something on our phones when we want to look busy.
7. Nothing, with aloofness
Sometimes cats look slightly away, nonchalantly, into the thin air. They want to protest the picture, but want to show us they really couldn’t care less. “Yeah, I could tilt my head a little and give you the pic you want, but why would I?”
8. Nothing, with irritation
Then sometimes my cats turn away, but want me to know I’ve outright pissed them off. So they stare into nothingness, visibly filled with irritation. “Are you gone yet?”
What do your cats look at instead of the camera? Tell us in the comments!
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About the Author: Angie Bailey is an eternal optimist with an adoration of all things silly. Loves pre-adolescent boy humor, puns, making up parody songs, thinking about cats doing people things and The Smiths. Writes Catladyland, a cat humor blog, Texts from Mittens (birthed right here on Catster) and authored whiskerslist: the kitty classifieds, a silly book about cats wheeling and dealing online. Partner in a production company and writes and acts in comedy web series that features sketches and mockumentaries. Mother to two humans and three cats, all of which want her to make them food.
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