'When I Paint My Masterpiece': SPCA Give Local event gives cats a chance to create art

On Friday, May 3, you will have a chance to obtain a one-of-a-kind art masterpiece produced by an artist that, one day, may be named Fluffy.

As part of the Give Local York fund-raising event, the York County SPCA is having an open house during which you can get a painting made by one of the shelter's rescue cats.

The artist in repose: Ralph the rescue cat prepares to create his masterpiece, a painting created by a feline. Art created by cats is one of the events of Friday's Give Local York fund-raiser at the York County SPCA.
The artist in repose: Ralph the rescue cat prepares to create his masterpiece, a painting created by a feline. Art created by cats is one of the events of Friday's Give Local York fund-raiser at the York County SPCA.

Don't expect a feline version of Picasso, though. The cats specialize in a more abstract style, fitting for the kind of imagination and short attention span of the species.

How it works is that for a donation of $10, you will be placed in a room with a cat, treats and cat toys - including the cat favorite, the laser pointer. The canvas will be spread on the floor and, at your prompting with treats and toys, the cat will track paint onto the medium, creating the work, said SPCA spokesperson Kristen Dempwolf. (Expect more Jackson Pollock than Rembrandt.)

Cat painting is just one of the attractions of the open house "PAW'ty," as the SPCA is billing the event, which runs from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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Other activities include food trucks, which will donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the shelter; kids' activities; feeding treats to shelter dogs with an SPCA-branded color-changing cup, and a doggie fashion show at 6:30 p.m. in which you can vote for your favorite with a donation to the SPCA. And there will be time to browse through the shelter and meet the critters looking for homes.

Donations are encouraged during the event. The SPCA hopes to raise $100,000 to fund its mission.

For more information, visit the Give Local page here or the SPCA's event page here.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Get an original painting by a cat at the York SPCA Give Local event

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