Photographing a Senior Cat (Who Cannot Sit Still)
Every senior animal is different. They each have their own challenges, their own needs. Some seniors are hard of hearing or deaf. Some seniors are blind or have difficulty seeing clearly. Some seniors have mobility problems. Others have other medical challenges such as cancer or diabetes. Today I will tell you the story of my own senior cat, Boots.
Boots is sixteen and a half years old. He came to us as a foster when he was only a few months old. He was this little gray, brown and white fluffball of a tiger cat. A more outgoing and friendly kitten I had never met. He loved EVERYONE! He smelled and behaved more like a puppy than a kitten. He even liked going outside on a harness and leash for walks. It wasn’t long before my husband told me, “It looks like we now have two cats. Boots isn’t going anywhere.” I looked over and tiny little Boots was curled up in his lap fast asleep.
Today Boots is just as mischievous as he was the day he came into our lives. He still likes to get on the counters, he likes to find any bit of people food that may be left where he can get it and eat it, he likes to knock things over and hear them crash to the floor. But he also loves attention. He loves pettings, sitting in your lap, and scratches behind his eats. Boots is a total love bug and goof ball.
Like may senior cats, Boots has medical challenges. His biggest and most obvious challenge is hyperthyroidism. Boots has a hard time staying still for more than a few moments unless he is sleeping. He also has a hard time keeping on weight. So, Boots is very thin. He looks rather scruffy, and he is in almost constant motion. This is a challenge when trying to photograph this little old man.
How did I manage to capture Boots for his photo session? Here are a few tips for photographing a senior cat that cannot sit still:
Patience! It takes a lot of patience to photograph any animal that doesn’t want to or cannot sit still. Take your time. Realize it could take a while and a lot of attempts to get the shots you are looking for. For that matter, it could take time to get any good shots.
Catnip Spray. To get Boots to stay in one location long enough to photograph him I sprayed the table covering with catnip spray. Boots loves catnip. The spray was enough to get his attention and keep him in one spot for a bit of time. Again, patience is key here. His initial reaction was to roll around in the catnip scent for a good five minutes before I could get any clear shots of his face.
Close the Door! I set up my studio table, backdrop, and lights in a smaller room with a door that can close. Boots was unable to run off to a different room. The most interesting thing in this room was the studio table and the treats and attention I was giving him.
Persistence! I allowed Boots to jump down off the table many times. I knew he needed to keep moving. As stated before, he cannot sit still for more than a few moments. Yet I was persistent. I kept luring him back up on the table and rewarded him with treats every time he returned. He eventually laid down for just a few moments and I got my shots.
Treats! Reward for any behaviors that lead to you getting your best shots. I gave treats when Boots returned to the table after he jumped down. I rewarded Boots when he laid down for more than a second or two. I rewarded when he looked at me when I called his name or made a sound. I also used treats to lure Boots back to the table and to try to get him to look at the camera.
Below are some of the photographs I managed to capture of my boy, Boots. If you have any other tips on capturing photographs of cats who simply cannot sit still, I would love to hear them in the comments!
