Cats are so varied in their expressions and habits that there is no need to be satisfied with stereotyped studies. After the cat has had a saucer of milk, there is generally an interval for licking and cleaning. This is a good time for photographing a cat. There are pictures to be made from a yawn or meow, sharpening claws or stretching. In every case the secret of getting an interesting shot lies in foreseeing the picture in time to photograph it.

These and similar pictures call for a shutter speed of 1/100 second or faster.

The color of the animal will have to be taken into consideration when determining the exposure. It is easy to see that a white cat needs less exposure than a dark one, if the picture is to show detail and texture in the animal’s coat. Panchromatic film will be advisable for most cats.

White cats are every bit as difficult to photograph as black ones. Often a white cat will make a better picture in the shade. Siamese cats are also tricky; not only are they temperamental but their dark faces and light bodies present an exposure problem.

The most important features of a cat are its eyes and its whiskers. Both should be rendered perfectly sharp; the general rule is to focus on the eyes of the animal. Strong sidelight can sometimes throw shadows on part of the eyes or make one eye appear much darker than the other.

In extreme close-ups the cat may squint as it watches the camera. A most natural thing to dp, but it will spoil the picture for most cat fanciers.

It is never difficult to attract the attention of the subject. Cats are keenly interested in all strange movements and noises. Flapping of a handkerchief, hissing, or calling the cat by name is enough to get it to look in the desired direction.

Food and drink are useful bait, and even when they have been disposed of, a full and contented cat is less likely to be temperamental than a hungry one.