I have a talking cat in my story. Is that a good idea?

BlueLucario · Dec 6, 2007

I have a story. Go to SYW to see. And it involves the MC talking to the cat telepathically, throught thoughts, and critiquers want me to get rid of it. because a talking cat will blow people off and that is my worst fear. When I write I hold back, when I reread and edit I hold back.

Should a talking cat be in the story. also forgot to mention that she's also half-human.

James D. Macdonald · Dec 6, 2007

The talking cat should only be there if it works for your readers, moves the story forward, and it would destroy the story if it wasn't there.

There's nothing inherently wrong with having a talking cat.

There is something inherently wrong with a boring book.

LeeFlower · Dec 6, 2007

I'm going to steel one of Uncle Jim's lines (ETA: UJ, who just beat me to the punch, above): does the talking cat advance the plot, reveal character, or re-enforce the theme of the story? Does it do so in a way that could not be done more effectively without it?

If the answer to both is yes, then yes, you should keep the talking cat. If the answer to either is no, then you should probably ditch it.

Are your readers genre readers? It sounds like you're writing an SF/F book. If your readers don't read SFF, they may not be very good indicators of how the book's intended audience will react. If people who don't read SFF are telling you that your genre elements will put people off, it may be because they're put off by genre elements in general. Make sure that at least some of your readers are members of your target audience, and weigh their input accordingly.

BlueLucario · Dec 6, 2007

I just think of my target audience is anybody who reads the story. I can't choose.

blackpen · Dec 6, 2007

i want a talking cat in real life. i would love to see one in a book. i'm surprised that a critter want you to get rid of it. quirky animals actually draw me into stories, even if they don't do much to the plot. maybe the person who told you to get rid of the cat is allergic.

blacbird · Dec 6, 2007

This morning I had a talking cat in my kitchen. I'd forgot to buy cat food yesterday. You shoulda heard what she called me.

caw

BlueLucario · Dec 6, 2007

So it's okay to put the talking cat in my story, since noone liked it.

Esopha · Dec 6, 2007

There's nothing wrong with a talking cat. When I was young(er) I read books just because they had talking cats in them. I like cats.

I have a talking cat in WIP#2.

Rolling Thunder · Dec 6, 2007

I have a complete work with 6-1/2 cats, two of which talk to humans. But, my story is a fantasy about magic and targeted towards MG readers.

Talking animals have been in stories since the dawn of storytelling. If your cat plays a major part in the plot and adds interest it will probably work. If it's only there as a whim, probably not.

LordDelusions · Dec 6, 2007

Christopher Paolini does it in Eragon., so why not?
and what does "MG" mean/standfor?

Rolling Thunder · Dec 6, 2007

MIddle Grade (8-12 year olds) Fiction.

ETA: A helpful reference link. http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2006/10/middle_grade_fi.html

swvaughn · Dec 6, 2007

Rllgthunder said:
I have a complete work with 6-1/2 cats, two of which talk to humans. But, my story is a fantasy about magic and targeted towards MG readers.

Talking animals have been in stories since the dawn of storytelling. If your cat plays a major part in the plot and adds interest it will probably work. If it's only there as a whim, probably not.

Six and a half cats??

BardSkye · Dec 6, 2007

I probably don't want to know...

Rolling Thunder · Dec 6, 2007

Yep. Full working title out on submission: Six and 1/2 cats - Secret Lives

Gillhoughly · Dec 6, 2007

Carole Nelson Douglas's Midnight Louie is one of the narrators in Catnap.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0812516826/?tag=absolutewritedm-20

There are several talking cats in it--including a couple of the Scottish fold breed named Baker and Taylor (for the bookstore). They have accents.

The murder takes place at an ABA convention and is MUST READING for any writer.

You wanna know about the throat-cutting side of the book business, read it.

The victim is a thinly disguised Lester Del Rey--found stabbed with a knitting needle--a note with the word "stet" left on his chest!

rugcat · Dec 6, 2007

Take a look at this fine (very) short story Tobermory by Saki, if you want to see a great talking cat.

Akuma · Dec 6, 2007

It would depend on what the cat said, wouldn't it?

Rolling Thunder · Dec 6, 2007

I can think of one immortal word, said twice, Akuma.

Akuma · Dec 6, 2007

Rllgthunder said:
I can think of one immortal word, said twice, Akuma.

Oh, boy, one moment of weakness and suddenly the entire site of AW seems to know. . .

*stomps off grumbling*

DancingMaenid · Dec 6, 2007

There's nothing inherently wrong with talking cats, any more than there's anything inherently wrong with most characters or plot devices. For example, there's nothing wrong with high-tech alien spaceships, but they usually work best in science fiction, and may be out of place in another genre. It's all in how you do it. If the cat is appropriate for the story you're writing, then I don't see any reason why it can't work.

Ziljon · Dec 6, 2007

I saw a lady walking her cat in a park today, talking to it and sometimes laughing.

It happened to be a black cat.

I bet she would like your story.

benbradley · Dec 6, 2007

For what it's worth, talking cats have been done. That's not to say you shouldn't do it. There's this author:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthven_Todd
who wrote the four "Space Cat" books listed there. I currently have a copy of the original "Space Cat" book, but I distinctly recall as a child reading a book where a man and his cat went to Jupiter and explored. There was some special moss on Jupiter that when both the man and cat touched it, they could communicate through their thoughts. This was true even when the moss was cut apart, so the man cut a couple of pieces and made necklaces in which he put the moss so they could "talk" anytime.

But none of those "Space Cat" book titles mention Jupiter, and I can't imagine what else it was I read.

There a quite popular story of a girl named Alice who met a special talking cat called a cheshire cat, but she (Alice) also ate mushrooms, so that may have been cheating.

But don't toss out your story just because there's a talking cat, even if you're not eating mushrooms.

Hummingbird · Dec 6, 2007

Luna. Everybody loves Luna. The cute and adorable, annoyingly teacher-like, black cat that helps out the characters in Sailor Moon, (a manga and anime) There's actually three 'moon cats', all of which can talk.

Anyway, talking cats are awesome! If the cat is part of your story, let it stay if it fits and helps with the story. None of my friends have ever mentioned putting a book down because it had a talking animal in it, and neither have I.

chevbrock · Dec 6, 2007

Cats are sarcastic, arrogant and thoroughly engaging creatures. I reckon if your cat has plenty of witty things to say, then you should definitely keep it. I think you could do a lot of really entertaining things with a half cat/half human. For instance, what happens at bathtime? What if his human genes are allergic to seafood? If he falls head down from a considerable height, does he land on his feet? What does he do if he sees a mouse? How good is he at climbing trees? How good is he at getting down them again?

Just some musings

Wraith · Dec 7, 2007

Why do they want you to ditch it? Because it is a talking cat or because of something it says/does or the fact it does not fit/advance the plot? If you know that, and also the reasons why you wanted that cat there in the first place, you'll probably have your answer.

It's not whether people like talking cats in fiction, imo, it's your particular cat that should have sound reason to be there and maybe an interesting personality, and it should read smoothly in the context of your story. So I agree with the others on that.

That said, I wouldn't be put off by the mere presence of a half-human cat. Even if you make it pink and give it a fishtail I still wouldn't be put off as long as the writing keeps me reading. And I tend to like talking animals in fiction, whatever the genre. Hope that helps a bit.

I have a talking cat in my story. Is that a good idea?

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