An Interview with Cat Cartoonist Scott Metzger
Scott Metzger is a cartoonist from the San Francisco, CA area. Scott’s single-panel comics appear on greeting cards, in magazines, and online. His work has been featured by Bored Panda, DeMilked, Country Living Magazine, Woman's World Magazine, Animal Planet’s Jackson Galaxy and is shared online by millions of people. Anyone existing on social media and owning a cat (or ten) has read and shared the humorous cartoon work of Scott Metzger. We know cats are funny and entertaining and Scott funnels their antics into hilarious cartoons.
Scott's first book of cat cartoons, Being Awesome Is Exhausting, was listed in Country Living Magazine's list of Best Pet Gifts for the Holidays for 2016. Scott's second book of cat cartoons, 50 Ways to Wake Your Human, was released on November 2, 2020.
Cat Photo Bomb!
How and when did you first become interested in becoming a cartoonist?
I started cartooning after I graduated from college. I had always enjoyed drawing, but I didn't start drawing single-panel cartoons until after college. Over the course of about 15 years, I made several efforts to get my work syndicated in newspapers (both my single-panel cartoons and a few comic strip ideas). Around 2009, I decided to stop pursuing newspaper syndication and began focusing solely on single-panel cartoons.
Was it cats that first inspired you to create cartoons or something else?
I've always loved cats, but they're not what inspired me to start cartooning. I was inspired by comic strips I read when I was a kid. My favorites were Peanuts, The Far Side, Calvin and Hobbes, Bloom County, and Garfield. There are many others I enjoyed, but those were the Big Five.
Where do you get your ongoing inspiration for cartoon ideas?
My two cats provide regular inspiration for cartoon ideas. Also, life, in general, inspires. Often, I'll get an idea from something that happened to me or something I saw. For example, my eight-year-old son recently came home from school, singing the "kissing in a tree" rhyme. A couple of hours later, my cat Max climbed a tree out front and had difficulty getting down (this happens pretty often). I put those two things together in this cartoon:
Do you write all the captions for your comics, or do you have writers who contribute or pitch ideas?
I write all the jokes/captions. Every so often, people approach me with cartoon ideas. I appreciate their interest, and sometimes the jokes are really funny, but I won't take their ideas. For me, drawing comics is very personal. Writing my own jokes and drawing them is what makes cartooning fun and satisfying. Years ago, I read an article about Gary Larson, and he described why he doesn't use other people's ideas or collaborate with others on cartoons. He said, "It's like having someone else write in your diary." I love that line. It's a great way to explain it.
But one time, I made an exception. Ten years ago, a friend of mine, Bob Williard, came up to me when we dropped off our daughters at preschool. Bob said, "I've got a great idea for a cartoon!" We have very similar senses of humor, and when he explained his idea, it cracked me up. It was such a dad joke. That night, I did a rough pencil sketch and showed it to him the next day. Here it is:
I ended up posting this sketch on my website, just for fun. I didn't sign it because I didn't think to sign it. Someone saw it, posted it on Reddit, and it went viral. Soon after, George Takei shared the sketch on his Facebook page. It killed me that I didn't sign the drawing as it became shared a lot on social media. Bob and I were amazed at how it took off. I later drew a finished color version of this comic.
Is cartooning your primary/only career?
No, I do have a day job. I work for a nonprofit organization. Luckily it's a job I enjoy.
Did you attend college to learn/enhance your artistic ability, or does your talent come naturally?
I graduated from UC Davis and took many art classes there. Since I was a little kid, I've been drawing, and it's always come naturally to me. I admire artists that can draw in different styles. That kind of talent amazes me. That's not something I can do.
Do you draw and write any other type of cartoon characters besides cats?
For several years, I drew a comic strip called "Tree" about a dim-witted pine tree trying to make it in the human world. I also like to draw dog cartoons and comics with other animals (raccoons, squirrels, etc.). I tried to get "Tree" syndicated in newspapers from about 2004to 2009, but it didn't pan out. Two syndicate editors liked the strip but deemed it "too weird" for mainstream syndication. Here are a few samples of that strip:
Is there ever a time you experience "cartoonist" block and can't develop new ideas?
Yes, unfortunately! When that happens, I know I need to get outside and either walk or go for a run. Exercise clears my head and helps get the creative juices flowing. It doesn't always work, but it often does.
What's your technique for creating your cartoons? Rough sketch, computer software, etc. How long does it take on average to create a single cartoon?
I draw a rough pencil sketch, scan it into the computer, and color it with Adobe Illustrator with a Wacom tablet. It takes 1-3 hours to draw a cartoon, depending on how detailed it is. Most of my comics take about 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
Do you do custom cartoon work that's only for specific people or organizations? (for example, if I wanted to purchase one Savannah Cat-related cartoon each quarter for my issues and website)
As a general rule, I don't do custom cartoon work. I used to do freelance cartooning jobs years ago, but I realized that spending time drawing other people's ideas isn't fun for me—I have zero interest in it. I prefer to draw my own comics and market them wherever I can.
How should people properly/legally use your cartoons?
I respectfully ask those who have businesses to pay licensing fees to post my cartoons on their social pages or websites. The fees are reasonable, similar to the cost of boosting a post. Businesses are always welcome to share comics directly from my Facebook page onto theirs, free of charge.
What's the best way folks can/should share your cartoons when they come across them on social media regarding copyright and credit?
Ideally, I like people to share directly from my page if they're posting on Facebook. Sometimes, a person might find my cartoon on some page, post it, and tag my page. That's fine, and I appreciate that. But if a business page is regularly posting my comics as new posts, I'll reach out to them to discuss licensing.
What does it mean when someone asks to "license one or more of your cartoons"?
Licensing means a person or company pays a fee to use my cartoons under specific, agreed-upon terms. It's typically a straightforward process, especially when people want to use my comics for social media posts, newsletters, lectures, workshops, etc.
Do you have a favorite breed of cat?
Not really, but I've always had short-haired cats.
What would you like to share about your family, interests, pets (names), or plans for your work?
I have a wife and two kids (a 13-year-old daughter and an 8-year-old son). My wife is a 5th-grade teacher, and she is a talented artist with a great sense of humor. I ask her for feedback on cartoons, and my kids also provide feedback. We have two rescue cats--Max and Hannah. Max is a 12-year-old tuxedo, and Hannah is a 17-year-old siamese-calico mix.
I've done two books of cat comics - Being Awesome Is Exhausting and 50 Ways to Wake Your Human. As for plans for my work, I'm currently working on a book of dog comics. It's a project that I put on hold for a while for various reasons, but I plan to finish it by this summer. It's long overdue.
I also have greeting cards for sale with NobleWorks and PicturaUSA.
Would you share with us your top 5 favorite cartoons of all time?
Here are five favorites. I like these a lot, which also struck a chord with readers.
