Rating: 
Summary: Subversively funny
Review: I made the mistake of reading this book out on my deck, and I laughed out loud so often that the neighbors probably thought I finally lost it. As with the best humor, the book is done with an absolutely straight face (well, except for the goofy portraits of the "artists" which beign each chapter). So straight, in fact, that I've seen at least two columnists who were taken in by it and reviewed it as a serious work. The level of detail is amazing: not just in the cat photos (which are wonderful) but in footnotes ("Stace, P. Feline Kinetic Design as Installation ARt, 1999-2001 Journal of Applied Animal Aesthetics, Vol. VII, 2001), captions (a Santa-painted cat: "...she makes us painfully aware of the continuing unhealthy santaization of winter solstice symbolism with its stupefying illusion of male as dominant gift giver"). "Why Paint Cats" works on a lot of levels - as a skewering of art criticism, a gentle poke at cat lovers and Animal Rights activists, and best of all, as good, silly fun.
Rating: 
Summary: Lovely Book!
Review: I really enjoyed Why Paint Cats- the photography and visual presentation is amazing. All the cats look beautiful! I have bought it for several friends and it really does make a wonderful gift- the perfect coffee table book!
Rating:
Summary: It's sooo wrong, but you can't stop looking at it.
Review: I saw this book at my daughter's guitar lesson studio. I picked it up and just couldn't stop looking at the pictures. Who the heck would do this to their beloved pet--even a cat? Some are just plain WRONG--those with the painted rear ends and the sexy bustieres. What's amazing about this book is that the authors treat the subject matter in a very straight way--they cover it as ART. It makes it even more funny. I bought this book as a gift for a cat lover and she is crazy about it.
Rating:
Summary: It's sooo wrong, but you can't stop looking at it.
Review: I saw this book at my daughter's guitar lesson studio. I picked it up and just couldn't stop looking at the pictures. Who the heck would do this to their beloved pet--even a cat? Some are just plain WRONG--those with the painted rear ends and the sexy bustieres. What's amazing about this book is that the authors treat the subject matter in a very straight way--they cover it as ART. It makes it even more funny. I bought this book as a gift for a cat lover and she is crazy about it.
Rating:
Summary: I don't think the CATS have been painted
Review: I think the PICTURES of the cats have been painted (or whatever word you want to use for it.) Why I think so - first of all, this is obviously a spoof, like the authors' other books. Secondly, I don't think cats would willingly submit to such elaborate art jobs - my cats wouldn't, I'm sure. I gave a copy of this for Christmas to my sister-in-law's mother, and she liked it very much.
Rating: 
Summary: Authors need to make a statement here
Review: I think with all the confusion here it is hard to give a proper review- maybe some stars for a spoof but should there be any if a lack of a responsible disclaimer is endangering the very cats that the lover's of this book profess to also love?
Please Burton Silver, Heather Busch if you are out there- set the record straight for those who might paint a cat!
Rating:
Summary: PLEASE DON'T PAINT YOUR CAT
Review: I thought Silver's previous book, Why Cats Paint, was hilarious. This book I thought was funny, too - until I saw my first painted cat today. It never occurred to me that people might actually take this stuff seriously and try to imitate it. PEOPLE - IT'S A SPOOF. The cat I saw had paint all over the inside of his mouth and a badly ulcerated tongue. We couldn't get the paint off his coat by any means other than clipping the fur. Enjoy the book. BUT PLEASE - DO NOT PAINT YOUR CAT!
Rating:
Summary: trick photography
Review: I was upset about this idea of changing the looks of an already beautiful creature...like gilding the lily...and then having to clean this vegetable dye and "harmless" peroxide off with their tongues. BUT...the friend who gave me this book says it was trick photography and I FEEL RELIEVED and can now enjoy this book. I just worry about those who WILL try this on their cats not knowing that this is a "joke."
Rating:
Summary: brilliant!
Review: If Christopher Guest dove into book writing and concepting I'm not sure that even his brilliance could touch the amazing, hysterically funny work contained within these pages. With so many touchy feely works on pets and art, this one is a refreshing work that manages to come across as both parody and respect. I love cats but I also love irony and satire: exactly the elements that Guest so deftly blends in his movies. I cower at the utter absurdity and genius of abstract art in general and this rare little gem of a book. Bravo!!!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, hilarious, and thought-provoking
Review: It took a while to figure out that the text was just spoof (I have seen actual art reviews with more jargon), but it took a lot of discussion to decide whether the cats were actually painted or digitally altered. There is still some doubt, but the talent of the artists (no matter the medium) is amazing. These are the most beautiful cats I have ever seen, and they certainly seem happy with the attention. I am even thinking of trying it (very carefully) some day.
| 
