Complete Care for Your Aging cat by Amy D Shojai

My senior citizen muse, Seren-kitty inspired me to update this OLD CAT BIBLE.

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Artistic types often make reference to “the Muse” that inspires their work, and writers are no different. I have three—my Seren-kitty, the Magical-dawg, and my first furry love who lives on in my heart.

Having a “furry muse” isn’t restricted to pet writers. Many literary giants shared their hearts with pets—Hemmingway’s cats are a living legacy, and one of my all-time fav thriller author Dean Koontz continues to include in his bio the fact he lives . . . “with the enduring spirit of Golden Retriever, Trixie.”

IMO, it’s only natural. Our animal friends are no less emotional, empathetic and connected to us than we are ourselves. I’m not alone in the thought. Author Mark Beckoff recently wrote,

“Many animals also display wide-ranging emotions, including joy, happiness, empathy, compassion, grief, and even resentment and embarrassment. It’s not surprising that animals—especially, but not only, mammals—share many emotions with us because we also share brain structures—located in the limbic system—that are the seat of our emotions. In many ways, human emotions are the gifts of our animal ancestors.” He illustrates the premise in examples of grief-stricken red foxes and magpies, joyous elephant reunions and more in this article.

Monday Mention shout out goes to my friend and CWA colleague Barbara Florio Graham—last year, this gifted writer/author was the recipient of the Shojai Mentor Award, because she’s so empathetic and helpful to other writers. She sent a picture of her furry muse Terzo and writes,

“Simon Teakettle III (Terzo) owns the company I work for! He helps maintain the website which bears his name www.SimonTeakettle.com) and has his own blog on the site.

“Terzo also helps market my third book, Mewsings/Musings, which was co-authored by his predecessor, Simon Teakettle II. He founded a MEWSical Society with 33 cats from six countries (plus a parrot!) and he has a fan club both on the website and on Facebook. Bobbi says, “Terzo wants you to see how he spends his leisure time. He loves this tunnel, which I gave him for his 4th birthday last summer.” 

So, do YOU have a furry muse who inspires you? Do tell! 

Purrs & Wags,

amy

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