Photographing a cat is a sport of its own. They look away the moment you lift your phone, settle in the only dark corner of the flat, and turn into a blur the second they hear the treat bag. The good news: to paint Your Cat, we don't need a perfect photo. Two or three honest ones will do.
In case you haven't come across it yet, Your Cat is our only finish that isn't a colour from our range. It's the same 40 cm sculpture, hand-painted to look like one particular cat: the coat colour, the stripes, the patches, the white socks. People order it for a cat mom or dad, for themselves, and sometimes to remember a cat who isn't around any more.
The three photos we'd ask for
First, one from the side, with the whole cat in the frame, standing or sitting. That's where we read the pattern along the body. Then one of the face, straight on, for the markings around the eyes, nose and chin. And if your cat isn't the same on both sides (plenty aren't), a third from the other side or from behind.
You can upload up to three photos directly on the product page.
Getting a usable shot
Daylight near a window beats any flash, because the colours stay true. Get down to their level rather than shooting from above, and let the cat fill most of the picture. Sharp is more useful to us than artistic, so skip the moody filters. Older photos are fine as long as they're clear, and an old print can simply be photographed flat by a window.
Tell us what the photos can't
There's a short note field on the product page, 300 characters. Use it for the details that are easy to miss: “white tip on the tail”, “left front paw white, right one ginger”, “green eyes”. Those little things are what make people say “that's him”.
Keeping it a surprise
If the photos live on someone else's phone, tick “I'll email the photos after ordering” on the product page and send them when you can. We start painting once we have them.
The practical bits
Your Cat costs CHF 349 with free shipping worldwide, and you'll see the price in your own currency at checkout. Like every AlwaysCat it's made to order and ships from Switzerland in 4 to 6 weeks. It doesn't take a painted name, since the portrait is already the personal part. If a name or a date is what you're after, this piece on personalised cats explains how that works.
And one honest word: we paint by hand, from photos. What you get is a close likeness with a painter's touch, not a photographic copy.
You might be wondering
Can you paint any cat?
Plain, tabby, bicolour, tortoiseshell, calico: send clear photos, mention anything special in the note, and we'll paint what we see as closely as we can.
Can I order it as a gift before I have the photos?
Yes. Order now and email the photos later. Or send an e-gift card so the owner can order Your Cat with their own pictures.
Is it the same size as the other cats?
Yes, 40 cm tall and about 2.4 kg. Here's how big that really is.