50 Times Cats Had Such ‘Powerful Auras’, Their Owners Just Had To Take A Pic

Photographer Karen, from Posh Pets Photography, revealed to Bored Panda that we can tell a lot about our cats' moods by their tails.

"It’s all about the tail! While there are obviously lots of cues our kitties give us, they speak volumes with their tails. A gentle, slow swishing of their tail from side to side, perhaps wrapping it around your arm or leg is the sign of a happy kitty," she explained to Bored Panda. "Walking tall with an upright tail or a little hooked forwards is a confident kitty, happy to see you. On the other hand, a fast twitching of the tail, along with bristled fur and hissing or growling, is an unhappy, scared kitty."

Karen gave us a peek into some of the challenges that come with taking pictures of cats. "As a pet photographer who photographs a lot of cats, it’s important to create an environment where the kitty is confident, happy and safe. For many, that can be in their home or somewhere inside. But sometimes cats don’t like strangers in their home, or they don’t like new experiences like the bright light of a flash," she said.

"So I find the most important first step is a pre-session consultation with the cat mom or dad to find out what their cat’s preferences and background are. From there, we design a session around them," Karen noted that everything starts with a consultation to get the ball rolling.

"On the day of, moving slowly, taking the time to allow the cat to explore and get to know me, my equipment, and introducing new things are vital. I often spend a little while just sitting on the floor, giving them time to come to me and realize that I am gentle and am no threat," she said that it's important for pet photographers to be patient and earn their subjects' trust.

"When photographing cats, it can be a challenge for them to stay in place or look where you would like. So I find embracing that reality by catching the brief moments just before they move, or catching the movement itself, creates portraits that show off their personality. Cats also generally love to track movement, so having lots of interesting things for them to look at helps too."