Cat hair on canvas (ugh!)

[mstarkweather]

Hi there,

I have 2 cats, and have my fans running in my apartment, because I have no AC. Does anyone have any tips to keep cat hair off their canvases while painting? This frickin cat hair is making me nuts!

Thanks!

[firehorse6646927]

I also have two cats who tend to infest whichever room I'm in. Bless 'em. Oh, and I live in the UK so domestic AC is a mere pipe dream.

The only suggestions I can offer are:

Frequent vacuuming..... or possibly getting it at source with a pair of clippers....??? but they probably won't go for that (and in case it's not blindingly obvious, I am joking about the latter..... mostly).

Can you cover the paintings while you're not working on them?

A static fluffy-duster will be useful to de-hair prior to starting the session.

I won't even suggest shutting the cats in another room - the yowls of complaint would be hellish (and if you had carpet in the room when you shut them in it, you'd have fluff when you let them out).

Good luck

[mstarkweather]

I admittedly do not vacuum enough.

[susme48]

{{{hugs}}} Melody! I used to get dog hair...and even tho' I miss the dogs (had to put them up for adoption when I moved into town, as they were large outdoor dogs). I admit I don't miss the hair! Now it is only a few of my brushes and my own, which seems to be shedding more than normal...sigh...which are a pain to pick out, if I notice them in time. As Marianne said, lots of vacuuming will help. (I need to do more as well, Melody!!)

[mstarkweather]

Thanks ladies. Is it terrible that if they're stuck I just pile paint thick on top of them to cover them up? Ha ha. I just hope customers don't notice.

[Raymo]

You could always shave the painting after finishing it. Maybe shave your kitty...

[moepar]

I know what you mean about cat hair & lack of vacuuming enough. I have 2 short haired & one extra extra fluffy cat. Sometimes I think I hack up more hairballs than they do.
One thing I TRY to do often (but I never seem to get at them all at same time) is to bush the heck outta the cats (less flying hair). After they get used to it ( & stop trying to eat the brush), it helps a little. I usually try to keep painting on a table that the cats aren't allowed on and I put newspaper down, or just use an easel. Still not always enough, but it can help.

[mstarkweather]

Thanks. I guess I need to clean more and brush/groom my kitties more. So, there is no magic solution. Too bad.

[idylbrush]

I don't allow my cat or dog in the studio area. They have become accustomed to that idea. I use a simple barricade system and they respect it. They have the run of the rest of the space, but, not the studio.

The sad but other option would be to find new homes for the pets. A difficult option but if the hair is that much an issue, then there may be no other choice. I really like the isolation idea. I rarely have a cat hair issue.

[Mz_Sketch_Pad]

put the cat in the closet- lol -just kidding- i used to have cat and she would lay on wet paintings- my only suggestions is tell the cat- get off my painting!!!lol

[mstarkweather]

Yes, perhaps I'll put a little barricade up. That's a good idea.

[moepar]

If you use the barricade, be sure to have a squirt bottle filled with water. If the cats try to join you in that room, squirt them. They should get the idea that the room is off limits. Hopefully your cats aren't as thick headed as one of mine & won't come back for second, thirds or tenths. . . .

[noodle1]

I can soooo relate but yet other then throwing their cute little butts out I haven't found any solutions. I often forget, get up and leave my studio, come back and find my surface and brushes have grown hair..haha really not funny but keeping them out and keeping the room vaccumed go a long way to help.
Oh and vaccuming yourself doesn't hurt either..haha

Elaine

[AllisonR]

Paint with pumice, sand, rocks, other items in your paint - then no one will notice the hairs.
I've had a similar problem, only with brush bristles and human hair - I shed I guess. I never noticed it before, because of all the pumice and other stuff I put in my paint. Now that I paint smoothly and carefully, all those items show up like crazy. And I often don't notice until after the paint has dried and it is 2 layers later! I have found taking a #11 xacto knife with blade under a 10x loop helps me dig them out, without ruining much, if any, of the rest of the paint.

[LavenderFrost]

I used to have two cats and I just accepted that some fur would be part of all my paintings.