Liz ponders writers and cats:

“In ancient times cats were worshipped as gods; they have not forgotten this.” ~ Terry Pratchett

Writing tends to be a solitary business. Many of the authors I know have a dog who will happily sit at their feet while they’re working.

Egyptian cat goddess that lives on Liz’s desk

Cats, on the other hand, are unfamiliar with the “sit, stay” command. It’s not that they don’t want to be with you. On the contrary. When they aren’t sleeping, they demand your full attention.

American fantasy author, P C Cast, put it perfectly.

“You know how it is with cats: They don’t really have owners, they have staff.”

“Authors like cats because they are such quiet, loveable, wise creatures, and cats like authors for the same reasons.” ~ Robertson Davies

I like that quote for obvious reasons, but how accurate is it?

Mochi

This is Mochi, the newest cat member of the family. The older cats are certainly quiet and will contently occupy the keyboard on the desk in my daughter’s kitchen. This attention-seeking little minx has taken to getting amongst my granddaughter’s homework where she rolls around in the papers.

Look at me.

I am so beautiful.

Give me a treat.

“Cats never strike a pose that isn’t photogenic.” ~ Lilian Jackson Braun

Some authors are not content with inviting cats into their own homes. They become characters in their books. An elegant and very clever Siamese cat is featured in the first book in the long running “The Cat Who…” series by Lilian Jackson Braun.

I have to admit that I was put off by the idea of a cat who could help solve crimes.

I have had a lot of cats in my life. Nelson, Whisky (he was black and white), Samantha, Sooty, Ginger Bits, Toby, Rocky and Pywacket. This doesn’t match with my experience of their character.

Mostly they sleep, eat and wash. Occasionally they will deign to sit on a lap to be stroked. Frequently they launch themselves from the top of bedheads without warning. Hard luck on whoever happens to be sleeping below.

They frequently appear in crime mysteries as the main protagonist’s sidekick. Usually their biggest role is to demand food and, in return, act as a sounding board as they talk through a problem. Sidney is always a willing listener in Lesley Cookman’s Libby Sarjeant series.

That is helpful.

Cats and Cozies

Fascinated by the apparently endless number of crime mysteries in which cats get title billing, I decided to read The Cat Who Could Read Backwards. I have to confess that my “one-click” finger is itching to download the next.

Image by Kodini from Pixabay

Forget the cat, Jim Qwilleran’s moustache is a character all by itself!

It is extraordinary how many mystery series are published that feature crime-busting cats who appear in the title. Put “cat mysteries” into a search engine and you’ll see what I mean.

There are straightforward mysteries, there are sci-fi cat mysteries and paranormal cat mysteries. Some crime-busting cats live in libraries – travelling and static. Other cat characters live in cafes – a new take on the cupcake genre? And, inevitably, there are paranormal series featuring cats.

It would appear that cat mysteries are a large sub-genre within the mystery genre. Who knew?

Most authors are creative introverts and cats fit beautifully into an introvert’s world

I don’t know who said that, but I like it. Here are what a few great writers said about cats.

“If you want to be a psychological novelist and write about human beings, the best thing you can do is to keep a pair of cats.’” Aldous Huxley

Cats featured in Angela Carter’s magical realist, picaresque tales. Her description of Puss in Boots in The Bloody Chamber is just glorious.

“A tom, sirs, a ginger tom and proud of it. Proud of his fine, white shirtfront that dazzles harmoniously against his orange and tangerine tessellations (oh! what a fiery suit of lights have I); proud of his bird-entrancing eye and more than military whisker…”

Baudelaire wrote that cats were “seraphic“, as subtle and harmonious as angels.

Charles Dickens asked, “What greater gift than the love of a cat?”

And Colette is quoted as saying “I went to collect the few personal belongings which…I held to be invaluable: my cat, my resolve to travel, and my solitude.”

Edgar Allen Poe, a cat lover, whose scariest story is, arguably, The Black Cat, said “I wish I could write as mysterious as a cat.”

Finally – the cat’s gift to the author

An author with a pet of any kind always has something to post about on social media. In my experience a photograph of a cute animal – especially a kitten — will always get a lot more attention and delighted response in the comments than a book cover.

(Note to self: include photographs of Abby’s cats, Patch and Princess in social media posts about the Maybridge Murder Mystery series!)

Liz