Working with cats on TV can be challenging but rewarding. It makes all the effort worth it when you get the money-shot!
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you and your production crew get the best performance from your feline co-star:
1. Choose the Right Cat – The Casting Process
Work with a reputable casting agency that is known for handling animals well and one that is fully licensed and insured.
Speak with the animal agent about how the cat was trained and how to achieve the actions on set that are required. If you present a storyboard of actions, this gives the agent and cat handler something solid to work with in advance of the shoot. Be very precise about the actions you want to achieve on the day.
Key things to consider are:
- Temperament: Opt for a cat that is calm, patient, and comfortable around new people and environments. Ask the agent what work the cat has done before. We suggest always choosing a cat based on temperament as opposed to appearance.
- Training: Consider a cat that has already undergone basic training, such as responding to commands or sitting on cue. Speak with the agent and ask to see remote rehearsal reviews; videos of their training or past work.
Health: Ensure the cat is in good health and up-to-date on vaccinations. Check their insurance certificates and ensure that the animal is licensed.
2. Work with a Cat Handler
Hire a qualified cat handler who has experience working with cats on camera. It’s often best to have the cat owner present as well as the owner will help the cat feel comfortable and get the best out of the animal talent on the day.
Don’t forget to check that the animal handler is licensed and insured; check out our blog about licensing requirements and what DEFRA expects.
Maintain clear communication with the cat handler, the agent and the animal owner to ensure the cat’s comfort and safety. To ensure the safety of the animal on the day, hire a vet from the agency to ensure you have covered all safety bases.
Tell the animal handler in advance if there will be other animals on set on the day of filming. Cats are sensitive to smells, so it’s best not to work in an area where prey or predator animals have just been filming (mice or dogs, for example). We kid you not, but we recently filmed in a studio with a cat where a staff member walked into the filming area with her dog off lead. This unacceptable behaviour was terrifying to the cat and broke all protocol and health and safety regulations.
Please think carefully about what animals are working nearby, in the same room and communicate this explicitly with the cat handler.
3. Prepare the Studio Environment
Create a quiet, secure area for the cat to relax between takes; this might be a green room, a spare room in the location or a quiet spot in the studio where the handler can set up a pen, litter tray and feeding area. The handler will also bring familiar items from the cat’s home to make them feel more comfortable.
Ensure that all windows and doors are secured with no one coming and going that will spook the cat. Block off all cubby holes and escape routes so that the cat doesn’t take interest in them. Don’t have people coming and going from the studio, making bangs, allowing cats to get frustrated and run away. Finally, remove unnecessary crew members from the room to reduce distractions and potential hazards during filming.
Don’t forget to ensure you have provided the “Five Freedoms.” The Five Freedoms of animal welfare are a set of internationally recognised standards that describe how animals should be treated when under human control. They include:
- Freedom from hunger and thirst.
- Freedom from discomfort.
- Freedom from pain, injury or disease.
- Freedom to express normal behaviour.
- Freedom from fear and distress.
4. Introduce the Cat to the Crew
Introduce the cat to the crew slowly and calmly, allowing them to get acquainted at their own pace. Don’t let the crew or actors and actresses crowd the cat; let the cat approach in their own time. Once the cat is secure with the staff and talent, filming will become so much easier.
The handler will use positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats or praise, to create a positive association with the crew and prepare them for filming.
5. Film Animal Sequences First
Cats are only tolerant of being out of the home environment for a short period of time. Time on set with our feline friends is precious, so don’t leave filming with cats until the end of the day. By this point they will become restless and frustrated and will be less likely to perform.
If you’re filming with animals, remember they’re not props ready when you are; work alongside them and consider their needs. Film them first so that you get the best out of the cat on the day.
6. Rehearse Without the Cat
Practise your filming sequences with tech, crew and actors before you introduce the cat to the set. Rehearse the scenes without the cat to ensure everyone knows their roles and timing, bringing in the cat at the last minute so that they don’t have to wait around in a noisy environment.
It’s important to not start adjusting props and moving things around once the cat is on set; give them the space they need to feel comfortable. Changing things at the last minute can often startle the cat and put them off working.
Determine the cat’s entrance and exit points, and practise these movements quickly before filming starts.
7. Keep Filming Sessions Short and Sweet
Limit stress for the cat by keeping filming sessions short. This avoids overwhelming the cat. Provide frequent breaks for the cat to rest and recharge as required.
8. Crew, Cast and Handler All Use Positive Reinforcement
Reward the cat with treats or praise for good behaviour. Usually the handler will handle this alone, but there may be filming sequences that mean the cast have to get involved. Always use positive rewards in this situation and take advice from your animal handler.
Never punish the cat for mistakes, as this can lead to fear and anxiety and will definitely affect the work they produce.
9. Be Patient and Flexible
Hearing crew, staff, actors saying things like “I hate working with cats!” is not cool. Oh yes, we’ve heard it on set several times. This tells the animal handler that you don’t have a good attitude, that you will probably be mean to the cat and will probably have no patience.
Ultimately, cats are not props. They’re sentient beings and have emotions like the rest of us. If they sense a bad vibe from the people around them, they will act in accordance with that.
Don’t hire people for the job if they don’t want to work with animals and don’t hire actors that haven’t worked with animals before or don’t like cats.
We’ll say it again; cats are not props. Nor are they robots. Be prepared for unexpected behaviours on the day and adjust your plans accordingly. Have back up plans in place, such as hiring a back up cat, filming in a different location, or providing longer break times.
Ultimately, we always need to prioritise the cat’s comfort and well-being to get the best out of them on the day.
10. Keep the Crew Quiet – We Really Mean This Bit!
Don’t have the crew trying to get involved with the cat, asking the cat to do things. Leave this to the handler who knows the noises that the cat responds to.
Stop the photographer or videographer making noises to try and get the attention of the cat – they may be noises the cat doesn’t like; leave this to the handler, they know what the cat wants.
Don’t have people coming in and out of the filming area, banging doors and spooking the cat. This can put them off filming for the rest of the day. Keep everything quiet so that the cat can be calm and relaxed.
11. Most importantly – Keep your expectations real!!!
The biggest issue we animal handlers face on set is that the production team often have unrealistic expectations.
Cats are sentient beings having clear emotions. If they have distress on the day this can really affect their performance and ultimately lead to them not performing at all. This can also lead to them being too scared to work in the future. Having a bad experience on set can damage their entire careers. We’re being serious.
Ensure you have booked the right cat for your production and it’s wise to have a back up cat in place in case the lead cat gets spooked on the day.
Cats are not robots, performing monkeys from the past with handlers who used fear and pain to get results, nor are they props. If we are sensitive to the cat’s emotions, we get the best from them on the day of filming.
Additional Considerations
- Avoid Interference: Resist the urge to approach or interact with the cat, as this can cause stress and disruption.
- Minimal Movement: Keep movement and noise to a minimum while the cat is on set.
- Multiple Takes: Be prepared for multiple takes to accommodate the cat’s pace and comfort level.
- Acclimatisation Time: Allow ample time for the cat to explore without any crew on set.
- Pre-Filming Preparations: Complete prop adjustments and actor makeup before the cat arrives on set.
By following these guidelines, you can create a positive and productive working environment for both the cat and your crew, resulting in a successful on-screen performance. Talk to The Animal Talent Ltd today and speak with our expert cat handlers to ensure that you get the best experience of filming with cats.
At The Animal Talent, our cats have worked on productions such as BBC’s “The Responder”, “Back In Time”, Paramount’s “A Gentleman in Moscow” and with brands such as Pets at Home, Ikea, Vax and many more. We really are experts in our field and we’d be delighted to assist you with your production.
