Crazy Cat Anatomy Scavenger Hunt

Are you tired of photography projects that need you to walk here, or hike there, maybe you need to grab a bunch of lenses or hope for the right kind of light? This can be so frustrating if you want to sharpen your cat photography skills but are not able to leave home for any reason.

But wait! Not all photography needs a lot of physical effort. I have a fun cat photography project for you this week and it is indoors based, if you need it to be. Read on for the fun…

This idea is simple and there is no set time limit. There are no demands for expensive equipment (unless you have some to use) so you can use your smartphone, DSLR/Mirrorless or your compact camera.

A Crazy Cat Anatomy Scavenger Hunt!

This fun project will make a short series of images that you can keep as a collection, print off or even display as a photo canvas. Similar to my post about Thomas where I captured him walking on a high fence in our garden using my smartphone, you can have a lot of relaxed unpressured fun.

You, the cat photographer, are in charge of saying what you like, what you want and when you want to take photos. Be conscious of how much light you might need to take your photos and, if you will need Burst mode to capture a stretch!

• TOP TIP: If you want to keep tabs on your photographs, put them in a separate file. You can edit them later, if you want to, and you won’t need to go hunting for single photos here and there.

Here are some ideas for where to focus your attention while you stalk your cat around your home 😉 :

Headshot

Take a close-up photo of your cat’s face. You can try from the front or the side (profile). Highlight single elements like the eyes, nose, or whiskers. Here I have included a super closeup of Toulouse (above), a profile shot and Taz.

This might take a bit of care as not every cat likes you to get too close with the camera. It took my cats a while to get used to me taking photos but they are more confident when I pick up my DSLR for a shot now. You can use zoom but keep a firm hold on your camera as digital zoom magnifies any camera shake.

Paws

Focus on your cat’s paw or paws.

Furry paws and cute toe beans can give you a shot that will charm lots of people. Everyone loved this image of Teddy’s furry paws when I shared it on social media. Be brave and fill the frame with paw! For a different shot if your cat perches on a glass table or surface, see if you can get underneath the glass as this gives you even more opportunities for fun – like my image of Chenzou.

Side view

Take a full body side shot. This kind of profile allows you to show off a lovely cat coat or glossy fur as well as spotlight their body shape and proportions, or motion. Taz here has short black fur and is almost a silhouette in my shot. Capturing a shot like this means you get some movement as well as your side shot.

Big Stretch

Capture your cat stretching out, either reaching up to catch a wand toy, or laid on the ground enjoying the sun. Even if you don’t get your cat’s full body length you catch the flexibility and those stretched out paws, just like Toulouse here. I was SO pleased with this shot and yes, I did get dusty lying on the ground.

Ear Closeup

Highlight the intricate details of your cat’s ears, including the fur, (which is called ‘furnishings’). Any unusual shapes or kinks or, as you can see here, sunlight which is shining through Dot Kitten’s ear.

Crazy Cat Anatomy Summary

Be fearless, take risks, get close. You may get blurry shots but you might capture a cat photo you can be really happy with. Throw in a butt shot of you know your friends will laugh!

Now, what kind of a shot are you going to try first? Let me know in the comments.