The Enduring Muse: How Feline Companionship Shaped the Literary World

A recent episode of "The Pawsitive Post in Conversation" has cast a spotlight on the profound and often overlooked relationship between acclaimed literary figures and their cherished feline companions. Episode 66, accessible across major podcast platforms including Apple and Spotify, and available for viewing on YouTube, features renowned literary historian and author Susannah Fullerton, recipient of the Order of Australia Medal, discussing her delightful book, "Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them." The discussion, led by hosts Zazie Todd, an expert in animal behavior and author, and Kristi Benson, a certified professional dog trainer, delves into the quiet, yet powerful, influence cats have exerted on the creative process and personal lives of some of history’s most celebrated writers, from the 18th century to the present day.

The Unseen Collaborators: Cats in the Creative Sanctuary

The podcast opens with a compelling question: do cats and writers share a special, perhaps unique, bond? Fullerton, a leading authority on 19th and 20th-century literature with a particular focus on Jane Austen, unequivocally affirms this connection. She posits that the inherently solitary nature of writing finds a perfect complement in the unobtrusive companionship of a cat. Unlike dogs, which demand walks and more overt interaction, cats offer a quiet, comforting presence—a warm weight on a lap, a watchful gaze from a desk. While occasionally providing a playful distraction by walking across a keyboard or settling on a manuscript page, these moments are often seen not as interruptions but as charming interjections that punctuate the rigorous demands of literary creation. Fullerton emphasizes that her book, published by the prestigious Bodleian Library at Oxford, seeks to illuminate how specific cats became sources of inspiration for poems, novels, short stories, and personal letters, offering not only affection but also shaping the very narratives and perspectives of their human counterparts.

Hosts Todd and Benson also shared anecdotes about their own feline assistants. Todd recounted how her cat, Melina, typically maintains a respectful distance during writing sessions but signals the end of the workday by gently "wrapping her knuckles" on the keyboard. Benson, on the other hand, confirmed that her cat, Apricat, is a constant, albeit sometimes "air-quoted," assistant, providing a warm lap during recordings and writing tasks. These personal reflections underscore the universal experience of pet ownership within the creative sphere.

Curating Canine Companions: Fullerton’s Methodical Approach

Fullerton’s process for selecting the authors and cats featured in "Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them" was rigorous and guided by a desire for both depth and diversity. She sought out subjects where sufficient anecdotal and documentary evidence existed to illustrate a tangible influence of the cat on the writer’s work or life. A notable example of this selective process is T.S. Eliot, whose famous cat poems became the basis for the musical "Cats." Despite his celebrated feline verses, Fullerton found it challenging to identify a single cat in Eliot’s personal life that provided enough specific inspiration for a dedicated chapter. Consequently, Eliot, along with other intriguing but less documented cases, is featured in shorter, interspersed sections she charmingly terms "little pawses" within the book.

The final selection reflects a broad spectrum of experiences: male and female authors, diverse nationalities including Canadian, American, British (English and Scottish), and a New Zealand writer. The cats themselves range from pedigreed breeds to humble tabbies and moggies. This extensive chronological sweep begins with Dr. Samuel Johnson in the 18th century and extends to a living author, ensuring the book’s relevance and appeal across centuries of literary history. This meticulous approach provides readers with a rich tapestry of human-feline interactions, highlighting how these relationships evolved alongside societal attitudes towards animals.

A Pantheon of Literary Cats: Stories of Affection and Inspiration

Fullerton’s book brings to life a remarkable cast of feline characters, each leaving an indelible paw print on literary history.

Hodge: Dr. Johnson’s Esteemed Companion (18th Century)
Dr. Samuel Johnson’s cat, Hodge, stands out as a pioneering figure in the history of beloved house pets. In 18th-century London, cats were primarily viewed as utilitarian creatures, valued for rodent control rather than companionship. Often associated with superstition and witchcraft, they frequently faced mistreatment. Johnson, a man of profound intellect and surprising compassion, defied these norms. Living in his Gough Square home, where he toiled on his monumental "A Dictionary of the English Language" (published 1755), Johnson treated Hodge with an affection uncommon for the era. He would personally procure oysters—then a cheap food for the poor—for Hodge, a testament to his devotion. Today, a charming statue of Hodge, seated atop a copy of Johnson’s dictionary with empty oyster shells nearby, graces Gough Square, bearing the inscription: "A very fine cat indeed." This tribute not only honors Hodge but also reflects Johnson’s progressive views on animal welfare, prefiguring modern pet-keeping sensibilities.

Daffy: L.M. Montgomery’s Therapeutic Muse (Late 19th/Early 20th Century)
The Canadian author L.M. Montgomery, creator of the beloved "Anne of Green Gables" series, found profound solace and inspiration in her cats, particularly Daffy. Montgomery’s life was marked by considerable hardship: the early loss of her mother, a distant father, a challenging upbringing with strict grandparents, and a marriage to a man suffering from severe depression. Through these trials, her cats became essential emotional anchors. Daffy, present during the creation of "Anne of Green Gables," provided warmth and comfort during long, cold Canadian mornings. Montgomery’s deep affection for felines is evident in her extensive journals, which contain not only detailed descriptions of her cats but also actual tufts of their fur and poignant obituaries upon their passing. Her heroines, like Anne Shirley and Emily Byrd Starr, invariably share her love for cats, and the iconic second proposal from Gilbert Blythe to Anne, which includes the offer of a cat, perfectly encapsulates this deep-seated connection. Montgomery explicitly stated that her cats provided the "therapy" she needed to navigate life’s difficulties.

Foss: Edward Lear’s Poetic Confidante (19th Century)
Edward Lear, celebrated for his limericks and nonsense verse, found his greatest comfort and inspiration in Foss. Lear, a solitary figure who never married and suffered from epilepsy (a condition poorly understood and stigmatized in his time), lived with a deep sense of loneliness until Foss entered his life. Originally named Aderphos, Foss, a portly, striped cat with half a tail, became the subject of Lear’s prolific artistic and literary output. Lear produced countless caricatures and drawings of Foss, often depicting himself alongside his beloved companion, and chronicled their life together in his letters. The depth of his devotion was tragically evident when Lear died just two months after Foss, having arranged an elaborate tombstone and funeral for his cat, far grander than his own. Foss’s enduring fame is such that he even boasts his own Wikipedia entry, a testament to his unique place in literary history as a constant muse and devoted companion.

Bob: Charles Dickens’ Feline Convert (19th Century)
Charles Dickens, initially not a "cat man," was famously won over by Bob, a deaf cat acquired by his daughter. Bob possessed a peculiar yet effective method for demanding attention: when Dickens was engrossed in reading or writing, Bob would reach out a paw and "snuff" out the candle, plunging the author into darkness and forcing him to acknowledge his feline friend. This charming anecdote illustrates Bob’s cleverness and Dickens’s eventual conversion to a cat admirer, showcasing how even the most resistant individuals can be charmed by feline personalities.

Blitz: Dorothy L. Sayers’ Wartime Companion (20th Century)
Dorothy L. Sayers, the celebrated crime writer, found Blitz as a tiny ginger kitten amidst the rubble of a bomb site during the London Blitz of World War II. She fittingly named him Blitz, and he became a symbol of resilience and comfort during a tumultuous period. Living in Whitham, Essex, Sayers faced the challenges of wartime rationing, which made feeding pets difficult. This struggle inspired her moving poem, "War Cat," an apology to Blitz for the scarcity of food. Blitz lived to the age of 15, and today, a statue of Dorothy L. Sayers in Whitham depicts Blitz twining around her ankles, a permanent tribute to their bond. During the war, Sayers’ home became a haven for friends’ cats, leading to a veritable "Kittens Unlimited" operation, where she frequently found herself seeking homes for numerous offspring, humorously noting that visitors often left with a kitten under their arm.

Boise: Ernest Hemingway’s Feline Family (20th Century)
Ernest Hemingway’s legendary love for cats was truly exceptional. At one point, his Cuban property was home to 54 cats, all of whom he knew by name. A self-proclaimed "cataholic," Hemingway famously commented, "If man could be crossed with the cat, it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat." His profound connection to these animals extended into his fiction, most notably with Boise, one of his many polydactyl (six-toed) cats, who featured prominently for 35 pages in his novel "Islands in the Stream." Hemingway’s enduring legacy includes the descendants of his polydactyl cats, who still roam his former Key West home, a living testament to his unique devotion.

The Evolving Landscape of Feline Care: From Pest to Cherished Pet

Fullerton’s research also sheds light on the dramatic transformation of cat care and societal attitudes towards felines over centuries. In the 18th century, veterinary science was nascent; the first formal vet training school opened in France in the 1700s, but its reach was slow to extend to remote areas. This meant pet owners like Robert Southey, whose cat Rumpelstiltskin (or Rumple) fell ill, had limited options. The common practice of drowning unwanted litters of kittens highlights the stark difference in animal welfare standards compared to today.

The 19th and 20th centuries witnessed a gradual shift. Cats transitioned from being merely tolerated for their pest control abilities to being actively invited into homes and cherished as pets. This evolution was accompanied by advancements in animal care. The invention of kitty litter in 1947 by Edward Lowe revolutionized indoor cat keeping, further integrating cats into domestic life. The story of Doris Lessing’s cat, Il Magnifico, who underwent a leg amputation and inspired Lessing’s moving short story "The Old Age of Il Magnifico," exemplifies the modern era’s commitment to veterinary care and the profound emotional bond owners share with their disabled pets. These historical shifts underscore a growing understanding and appreciation for the complex emotional lives of animals and our ethical responsibilities towards them.

Beyond the Page: Broader Implications and Future Projects

Fullerton’s book, "Great Writers and the Cats who Owned Them," has resonated widely, appealing not only to "cataholics" but also to those who simply appreciate history and literary anecdotes. Its exploration of the joys and challenges of sharing a home with an animal, and the lessons learned in responsibility and care, transcends the specific love for cats. The book serves as a unique lens through which to understand the human condition, particularly the creative impulse, and the evolving human-animal bond.

Following the success of her feline-focused work, Susannah Fullerton is already embarked on her next project with the Bodleian Library: "Great Writers and the Dogs who Love Them," slated for publication in 2028. This forthcoming book promises to explore similar themes, shifting the focus to canine companions and their influence on literary figures, further cementing Fullerton’s role as a leading chronicler of literary lives and their animal inspirations.

During the podcast, Fullerton also shared a compelling literary recommendation: "Anne’s the Life and Works of Hanako Muraoka." This book tells the story of the first person to translate "Anne of Green Gables" into Japanese. Muraoka, taught by Canadian missionaries, secretly translated Montgomery’s classic during World War II, a dangerous act given the book’s "enemy alien" status. Her translation, eventually published as "Red Headed Anne" due to cultural differences, became a phenomenal success in Japan, transforming Muraoka into a beloved figure and fostering a deep Japanese affection for Prince Edward Island and Montgomery’s works. This recommendation beautifully connects back to the impact of L.M. Montgomery’s work and the global reach of literary connections.

Susannah Fullerton continues to share her passion for literature through her website, a free monthly newsletter titled "Notes from a Book Addict," illustrated lectures, and literary tours around the world. Her work consistently highlights the fascinating intersections of history, biography, and the written word, enriching the understanding of both authors and their cherished animal companions. The podcast episode, and Fullerton’s book, ultimately serve as a testament to the profound and often surprising ways in which our animal friends shape our lives, inspire our creativity, and offer unwavering companionship through the quiet solitude of artistic endeavor.