Is this a strange/offencive gift?

Am certain they would absolutely love that painting but agree with others, not as an engagement gift, or perhaps an extra one so not all the emphasis was on it.

My late cat used to come into the art class I volunteered at, as he'd follow me through the door. I have two paintings of him from the students and I adore them. Such a kind thing to do.

It's not a painting of a dead cat. It's a painting of a cat from memory, that is now dead. Very different. She didn't paint a corpse.

I agree not an engagement present but I would like to have received this just as a gift and a memory.

That's a lovely idea. My Mum's cat Chloe, died just before Christmas and for her birthday (Jan) i found a particularly nice picture she has sent me and got it printed a framed for her, she loved it.

I wouldn’t give it as an engagement gift.

I would mention I’d made the painting and go by their reaction. If they seemed excited, I would offer it to them.

I like the idea of having it printed as a card, but maybe not as a framed painting if you're an amateur. A relative of mine started painting classes and did a painting of our dog. She was chuffed with it really wasn't great. I was appreciative of the effort, but it wasn't something I'd have hung up.

Gotta say I'm loving the use of DCat. DH, DD, DS, DC, and ... DCat.

Darling.

I think PPs idea of printed it onto a card is very good idea. Then you can tell them you painted it at your art class

Yes, this I think.
Your idea of the painting is a lovely though, but don’t tie it to the engagement.

As an engagement gift, probably not. But I do think it’s a very sweet sentiment, most people would be touched to receive a tribute to a lost pet

Let’s see the cat…

Could you ask her? Tell her you dabble a bit at an art class and one week you were painting animals. You painted a cat which was similar to yours and wondered if you would like to see it?
That way, if she agrees and likes it, you could gift it to her

this. Some people are "pictures of lost loved ones" people and some are not. I am a not and the problem I would have is how to get rid of the bloody thing without upsetting you....and for an engagement present? Just no.

OP that’s really thoughtful of you. We’d love to see your work :)

But in my experience giving artwork as a gift can be tricky because people’s taste in art is SO personal and subjective. Receiving unwanted artwork from a friend can be awkward. If you gave them a painting and they didn’t like it for whatever reason - whether because of the dead cat subject matter or just the style - would you be offended if it wasn’t put on display in their home?

this is just based on my own experiences but I appreciate others might think differently.

Not that unusual.

I think it's very touching, there's just the possible issue of them feeling pressured into displaying it before they're ready, as they might not want to 'offend' you.

Perhaps if you could make it clear you understand they may never be ready, then it might make it easier.

I am a very amateur artist

Unless you can post a pic, I think this says it all. She'd feel obligated to display it, even if not to her liking or worse case- its an awful representation of her beloved cat.

I would bloody love that and be really touched at something so thoughtful

I love the card idea, or even an unframed painting with a separate card but I think a framed painting is way too much pressure on them to display it even if it’s not their thing, given you are around there often. It’s a really sweet idea though. Personally I wouldn’t want to display a hand painted picture of my cat, kids etc as it’s just not my style but I would still be really touched to receive it from you and I would genuinely love having the painting to look at from time to time even if I didn’t display it, knowing someone was thinking of my lovely cat.

I would think it was well-intentioned but misguided. I wouldn’t want to look at a picture of my dead cat.

Yeah it is bit odd as some say.
"congrats on your engagement, here is a pic of your dead cat" would probably bring the mood down.
You can just give it as present normally

I think it's a lovely idea.

But the only thing that would concern me would be I might feel under pressure to display it and I might not be ready to.

My lovely cat died in my arms a couple of years ago and I still find it hard to look at photos of him.

But that's just me, and you can't argue with the fact your heart is in the right place OP.

@moanycoo - when our first dog died, very suddenly, one of dh’s dog walking friends offered to do a painting of her, if we would like it. We said yes, and now have a lovely picture of our beloved brown lab on the wall - and we are so grateful for the effort this friend went to, to give us a memento of her.

Could you offer the painting to the couple as if you haven’t done it yet - “You know I love painting - would you like me to do a picture of your cat, as a memento of her?” - and if they say yes, you can give them the picture?