Every cat is unique and, in the eyes of every 'pet parent', the most beautiful animal to ever walk the earth. And that's just how it should be. But how do you capture that spirit, that personality, that 'special something' about your cat in a photograph that you'll always treasure? Well, the good news is that the advent of affordable digital cameras has made it easier than ever… The techniques for capturing a stunning image of your cat are pretty much the same that you'd use for taking photos of any other kind of wildlife - immense patience; flexibility over lighting and exposure; awareness of the feelings of the animal; and lots and lots of shots! With a digital camera it doesn't matter how many images you take, so you can snap away to your heart's desire - the more shots you take, the better chance of catching that one perfect image. Even so, it's a great idea to be prepared so here are some handy tips you may want to consider…

Be focused

Before you even pick up your camera to photograph your cat, think about what it is you really want to capture for posterity. Is it the way she manages to take over an entire sofa when she's asleep? Or the way she leaps like a gazelle from the floor up the top of the bookcase? If you have a specific objective, time your 'photo shoot' accordingly and wait for the moment. Focus is also important from the perspective of achieving the sharpest image. Remember, a camera's autofocus system will have more success locking onto a solid object (like an eyeball or a collar) than a clump of fur. And if your cat is moving and changing her distance from the camera, remember to keep focusing and refocusing all the time to compensate, so when that perfect moment happens, you can capture it in 'pin-sharp' resolution.

Be patient

Your cat doesn't understand that you're trying to take her picture - that's why she refuses to obey commands like "stay still, right there!" or "move just a little to the left". So you're just going to have to wait for her to strike the perfect pose in her own good time. Let her relax, don't chase her. If you want her to look at the camera, try holding a favourite toy above your camera to grab her attention.

Be bright

As a general rule, flash photography and animals don't go well together. Some cats are alarmed at the sudden bright light, and flash does tend to 'bleach' out the rich colours of an animal's markings. Natural light - either outside or streaming through a window indoors - is not only far less 'traumatic' for the cat but also gives far better results in terms of colour reproduction. And if there's not quite enough light, the beauty of digital is that you can always artificially brighten the shot later on your PC.

Be prepared