Artist Uses Photoshop to Edit Cats into Giant Surreal Pictures
Some cat owners take their obsession to the next level, but Matt McCarthy turns it into something far stranger. His Photoshop edits transform ordinary cats into giant, eerie creatures towering over cities, castles, and quiet streets.
The results are playful, unsettling, and oddly believable, which is part of the appeal. McCarthy has built a whole visual world around cats that look cute for a second, then a little monstrous the next.
His best-known pieces, plus a few notes on how he works, make it easy to see why people keep scrolling.
In an interview with Bored Panda, Matt McCarthy said:
"The idea initially came to me as I was observing my own cats when they were playing with a bug that had entered our house. I wondered how they would react if my wife and I were that small.
They're so sweet and cuddly that we tend to forget they're apex predators."
Mike Wazowski, is that you?
"Say AAAHHHH"
Always Watching
"I taught myself Photoshop through tutorials and practice. I previously used Photoshop as a drawing tool for my illustration work, so there was a shift in skills when I started using it to create manipulations.
I was drawn to digital collage because, while I’d made paper collages in the past, I felt there were limitations to what I could create. Photoshop allowed me to bring the ideas I had in my head to life, and it’s become an indispensable tool."
"Sometimes everything clicks, and a picture comes together in an hour; other times, I might have to wait months before I find the right cat or location. I enjoy the simplicity of two-part collages, but they depend heavily on the original photos working in harmony. I try to surround myself with as much source material as possible so that I’m ready to stumble upon something. I regularly look through my folders of downloaded and scanned images of both locations and cats, waiting for those connections."
CREEPY
"I strive for uncanny surrealism. I want to create pictures that feel very familiar to the viewer, yet are slightly off."
One Big Leap for Cats!
Speaking of pet transformations, Disneyfied Pets, turning furry friends into animated stars, flips the same “cute to surreal” switch.
Traffic Jam?
Big Yawn!
"My favorite part of the creative process is the spark that comes when you find a connection between two pictures. I sift through thousands of photos of places and cats each week, so when two images click, it can sometimes feel like magic, as if the cat has always belonged in that scene.
Being able to turn an idea into reality is satisfying, and then sharing it with others who I think will enjoy it makes it all worthwhile."
Peekaboo!
I See...
Gross, but imagine having to clean up after the giant cats!
Even Big Cats Need a Nap!
Insta Famous!
Peekaboo!
The Perfect Size for a Nap!
Scratching Post!
Forget a Dragon, This Castle Has a Cat!
Two Bodies Are Better Than One?
These Are So Cool, Right? Tell Us Your Favorite in the Comments!
Don't forget to follow for more incredible content from experts like Gretchen Rubin, happiness researcher, who says, "The days are long, but the years are short," reminding us to appreciate the little moments. For more insights, visit her website!
Wait until you see the artist photoshop giant cats into everyday scenes in Giant Cats: A Surreal Photo Adventure.
Share this article:
