Cat artist turns playful sketches into thriving studio
5/6/2026
Prints of cats drenched in colorful backgrounds, a cat squeezed into a box and another kitty slurping milk are displayed at Melanie Jacobs’ art studio.
Jacobs’ studio, Cat Loaf Studio, is named after the way cats look when they are scrunched together with their tails tucked in, resembling a loaf of bread.
Jacobs opened her studio at Mainframe Studios last fall, but she has been sketching her entire life and majored in fashion design. When she was given a theme for a local art show, she drew a robot cat.
“I never drew robots. I had so much fun, it sparked more cat drawings,” she said.
She began sketching commissioned cat portraits and drawing other cats. Her main inspiration is her own Persian cat, Sansa — named after a “Game of Thrones” character — that appears in several drawings.
“I fell into my niche, and it exploded,” she said.
When she moved to Des Moines with her fiancé three years ago, she focused full time on her cat art.
Sansa and other cats — including those from online videos and photos — stretch her imagination. She has drawn a stack of cats, similar to a stack of pancakes. Her cousin’s cat has been fashioned into a chicken nugget and a mushroom.
Recently, her drawings have included diverse breeds of cats, as people who visit her art booth often look for their own breed. By drawing cats of different colors, she attracts a wider range of followers.
“A lot of people gravitate toward a cat that looks like theirs,” she said.
One aspect of her business is offering prints and products rather than selling original artwork.
“My business model is different from other artists,” she said. “Prints and physical products in this economy are one way to survive as an artist. My art apparel you can wear, as opposed to original art, which is more costly.”
She sells items online through Faire, as well as at festivals, events and her studio. One place she found success was at the Des Moines and Nebraska Comic-Con events and Pride festivals.
“It’s a big draw. Cats are relatable at so many different events. I didn’t know if Comic-Con would be a good place,” she said. “My niche fits in a lot of unusual places.”
Recently, at Mainframe Studios, she curated a themed art show called “Critters and Creatures,” which featured artwork by other Mainframe artists.
Customers who stop by her booth often show her pictures of their cats.
“Even introverts will come out of their shell and talk about their cat. It’s easily approachable and relatable,” she said.
Although she receives many requests for custom cat portraits, she has declined them. She is currently creating different cat colors and fulfilling orders. About 40 retailers carry her items. Because the word “cat” is in her business name, she gets frequent search hits, including from cat shops and gift shops.
Because she prefers working independently, each day is different.
“Working for myself was always a pipe dream. Now the possibilities are endless,” she said. “Having a subject matter that makes people happy brings me joy every day.”
Find Jacobs’ work at https://catloafstudio.co/ or at Studio No. 227 at Mainframe Studios in Des Moines. ♦
