Critters with a creative streak

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — When Tara McClung went out of town for about a week two years ago, the last thing she expected to find when she came home was her cat's new hobby.

Engine had discovered wire sculpting.

McClung, of Pompey, N.Y., said Engine likes to take floral wire and bend it into various shapes by using his teeth and paws. Sometimes he even bends the wire into tiny loops.

"I have no idea how he does it," said McClung, 33.

Engine is among 10 animal artists whose work will be on display at the second annual Pawcasso art show Friday in Syracuse.

When Engine first started bending wire, McClung's husband Dan, 33, said he thought the cat missed Tara during her trip and did it out of frustration.

Turns out, it wasn't just a temper tantrum.

About once a week, Engine continues with his hobby. Tara McClung, an art teacher in North Syracuse, said the cat usually does it at night. He rolls onto his back, lifts the wire up with his paws and starts bending and biting. When he's finished, McClung connects the wires to form an image. So far, Engine's sculptures have included a heart, the letter "C" and the silhouette of a cat.

McClung's dog and two other cats don't touch the wires and have no interest in Engine's hobby, she said.

Engine's work in Pawcasso is the only wire sculpture. The other artistic cats, dog, rabbit, parrot and penguin all prefer painting.

Each animal has its own artistic methods and preferences, according to Debbie Tobin, penguin zookeeper at Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse.

Tobin, 29, is training five penguins to paint this year. She said many animals at the zoo, perhaps most publicly the Asian elephants, have been painting for years.

Five of Tobin's tips on training your animal to be creative

Look at your pet's natural behavior and see what it can offer. For example, primates like to use their hands, while dogs naturally want to hold onto something with their mouths or walk across to create an image. Birds use their beaks while cats prefer their paws.

Don't force your pet to do anything against his natural behavior; try to make it an enjoyable experience.

When you train animals, use a lot of positive reinforcement. Reward them with treats if they do something correctly. Some animals might not want treats, which you can replace with verbal reinforcements such as, "good boy" or "good girl."

Take baby steps. Break down the entire creative process into little pieces. When painting, for example, first let the animal touch the brush. Next time, teach your pet to hold the brush and work your way up to adding paint. Keep your sessions to about 10 minutes so it's not overwhelming for the animal.

Be patient. If something is not working, take a step back and try again. If your pet can do one little thing, be thankful and reward them.

Four tips on supplies and technique:

Linda Young of Liverpool, N.Y., has five cats, a parrot and a rabbit who paint.

Here are her tips:

• Use nontoxic (oil-free) paint.

• You can use cardboard, poster board, canvas or wood.

• Sometimes you can let the animals paint by themselves, or you can help them. Guide your pet by dipping or painting his paw with paint, or you can mix colors for him.

It's a good idea to spread newspaper or other drop cloths around your artistic pet.