Friday Fun: Cats or Dogs?

Friday Fun is a group post from the writers of the NHWN blog. Each week, we’ll pose and answer a different, get-to-know-us question. We hope you’ll join in by providing your answer in the comments.

QUESTION: Who do you think makes the better companion for writers – cats or dogs? 

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Lisa J. Jackson: Tough one! I grew up with both cats and dogs, but since being out of my parents’ house I’ve only had cats. Mostly for convenience — I can get lost and ignore them for up to a few days and they’ll survive nicely, unlike dogs that need to play and walked. Cats are great since they are self sufficient, but they are also controlling and bossy, and, wow, if you want to type on a keyboard or heaven forbid, read a newspaper, guess where the cat needs to stretch out? Yep, right across the keyboard or newspaper.

My cat can be hidden away somewhere, and if I spread out some papers, VOILA! He’s right there and needing to get cozy on top of the papers.

I think dogs can be good companions for writers in that they force us to get up and out of the chair at somewhat regular intervals — and getting outside even for a few minutes is a great way to re-energize, step away from a current project, and come back to any bit of writing with a new perspective. I think going out on walks or just focusing on something other than writing is a great way to get those “ah ha” moments to surface. And a dog could be great for that. But, a ‘real’ dog, not a critter that is smaller than my cat, or one that fits in a pocket or purse — those aren’t really dogs, are they? 🙂

Jamie Wallace: Up until a few years ago, I considered myself a dog person. My younger sister was always the cat person. I was the wild thing, romping through the woods  with my German Shepherd, Boomer. Sis was more of the girlie-girl, into makeup and girlfriends. Since childhood, I’ve shared my life and home with both cats and dogs, but my current four-footed roommates are a pair of rescued tabby point cats – a mother and daughter named Bella (as in “beautiful,” not that dreadful, sparkly vampire girl) and Cinder (so named for her fascination with the bread oven in the three-hundred-year-old fireplace.

Bella and Cinder, keeping the writer company.

Bella is very laid back, but Cinder gives me plenty of excuses for frequent breaks. Much like a dog, she loves to play. In fact, when she was younger she would actually fetch; but she has given up such undignified behavior now that she’s a little older. Both kitties keep close company when I’m working. They curl up next to me in bed before the sun is up while I write my morning pages and often sleep in cat beds that I have placed on my desk.

Though I love all animals, cats seem to me to have a certain literary flair. With their mercurial personalities – now aloof, now amorous – they seem particularly suited to playing the role of muse. Mine are constantly encouraging and entertaining me just by sharing the hours of the day. I used to spend a lot more time down at the coffee shop before I adopted these feline friends of mine. Now, I’m content to stay here at home, hacking away at the keyboard and listening to them purr.

Diane MacKinnon: I think Jamie and Lisa have covered the benefits of having cats and dogs as a writer’s companion, and I agree with both. I have two cats (brothers, Fred and George) who are often close by as I write. When I write in my journal they try to bat the moving pen out of my hand, but other than that they make excellent companions. A dog would give me a great excuse to get out of the house and into the sunshine, but I do a lot of that even without a dog. Here’s a picture of Fred enjoying the sun in our kitchen.

Deborah Lee Luskin: Does it have to be either/or? My cats keep me company at my desk, and my dog would always let me know when it was time to get up and go for a walk! (I miss her terribly; she died in August.)