Mr. Nice Guy: Alice Cooper donates cat drawing to Detroit rescue group for fundraising

A small gesture from a big star could go a long way for a Detroit cat rescue group.

Alice Cooper has donated a hand-drawn, signed picture of a freaky feline to Michigan Cat Rescue, a modest volunteer organization that will auction the autographed piece to raise money for operations.

“He’s a big kitty lover and he was very eager to help out,” said executive director Sasha Oza. “It’s nice and refreshing to have someone so kind and willing to help.”

The veteran Detroit-born rocker drew the sketch during an appearance at an Orlando horror convention last weekend. From the looks of it, his cattywampus drawing might very well have been inspired by the “Welcome 2 My Nightmare” album poster displayed behind his table. It may not be Louis Wain-level cat art, exactly, but it's distinctive enough.

The rescue group got connected with Cooper through Oza's co-worker at a Detroit veterinary clinic: That staffer, who’s also part of a Garden City firm involved with celebrity bookings, sent word to the rock star about Michigan Cat Rescue.

A sad story about one recent arrival — a cat that came in with lacerations and wrapped in duct tape — especially tugged on Cooper's heartstrings.

“She asked him if he’d be willing to do something for the rescue,” said Oza. “Turns out he’s a huge animal lover.”

Cooper’s act of generosity then prompted donated autographs from “Twilight” cast members and Marvel actors also attending the Orlando convention, Oza said.

Cooper, 76, who broke big in the 1970s with his provocative hard rock and macabre stage shows, remains a fixture on the concert circuit. His next homecoming concert will happen Aug. 30 at Pine Knob Music Theatre with Rob Zombie.

Michigan Cat Rescue hasn’t set a date for its auction, which it hopes will raise funds for everything from kitty litter to vet care for fostered cats and kittens.

In the meantime, said Oza, the group’s Facebook post about Cooper’s homespun sketch has drawn reaction from around the world.

“We’re a very modest rescue and we don’t have a lot of help, so it’s extremely valuable to us,” she said. “It will definitely help us continue our efforts.”

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Mr. Nice Guy: Alice Cooper donates cat sketch to Detroit rescue group