5 Reasons a Cat Makes the Best Writer’s Muse
The artist’s muse holds a special place in history. A beautiful ingenue, posing languidly for the tortured genius, his or her mere presence elevating the work to greatness. Something like that.
For a writer, this scenario could be problematic. Having someone sit naked and stare at you while you’re trying to write could be pretty unnerving. Unless you’re into that. I don’t want to judge.
But I do have a muse. He does stare occasionally, but mostly he just sleeps. He is never naked, thankfully, but always covered in luxurious furs (they’re vintage, so don’t hate).
I don’t know if he elevates my work, but I know that his existence in my world helps me be a better writer.
So, after many years of personal experience with a small, furry demi-God, these are the 5 reasons a cat makes the best muse for a writer:
They teach you to be your true self
Cats are weird. Anyone who watches a cat suddenly leap to attention in an empty room and then sprint out of it for absolutely NO REASON can bear witness to that. But cats don’t care. Cats are happy to be weird. They don’t need your opinion.
You should be more cat. Worry less about other people’s opinions, especially about whether you should be writing (or if it’s a real job).
Just do it anyway. You weirdo.
They help you achieve your goals
There is nothing that will motivate you to get up and start your writing quite as much as a cat waking you, asking for breakfast.
At 4am.
By standing on your face.
They teach you to endure the sting of rejection
A writer’s life is a tough one. You create your masterpiece. Your hopes are lifted.
And then they are dashed by a two paragraph rejection letter.
This is much like life with a cat. One moment they roll on their backs, gazing adoringly at you, begging you to stroke them. The next moment they’re wrapped around your wrist like a baby koala, tearing the flesh from your bones.
It’s called balance.
They instil discipline
There are days when you just don’t want to write. There are also days when you really don’t want to clean up the faecal deposit left in the litter tray. But you have to. Because if you don’t your house will smell like a colon. This teaches you the merits of a writing routine. If you don’t practice regularly, it will stink.
They show you that, in the end, all that matters is that you tried
Ever watched a cat attempt a jump from one location to another, only to miss? (It’s hilarious, by the way). Have you ever seen a cat be embarrassed by this failure?
Um no, you have not.
That’s because a cat doesn’t believe in failure. Only in the process. A cat just saunters off with the kind of confidence that only comes with true self belief.
Or sociopathy.
Just get in there and give it a go, and if you fail, just lift your tail and point your back end at the nearest person. It’s very freeing!