Straight talk from the sisters about blood, sweat and ink
K is for Kittens!
Know what we need in the middle of this A to Z Challenge? A fun post full of cute kitty pictures!
But I also have some bonafide advice for writers with cats. Just this year we adopted a stray kitten from the shelter, and I’ve learned a few things about writing from home with a fuzzy feline…
3 Tips for Writing with a Kitten
Get a wide mug that cannot easily be tipped. This is indispensable. Even if your kitty isn’t the knock-crap-over type, she can still accidentally upend your coffee or tea onto your keyboard when she spontaneously jumps on your desk to say “Hi!” With that in mind, a keyboard cover is also a smart idea, just in case.
Create a cuteness blinder. I suggest wearing a hoody or hat or scarf that inhibits your peripheral vision so you can’t see your incredibly cute kitten during writing time. If you can see your kitten, you will be mesmerized by her cuteness! And you will stop writing to pet/play with her. This is a time suck even more powerful than Facebook! Wear a blinder until you develop the necessary resistance to her charms.
Get her a toy. If your cat has nothing to play with, she will want to play with you and doesn’t understand that you’re doing something very important in front of that glowing screen. We got our kitten balls and this cat dancer thing, but she’d never play with those on her own. Finally a friend gave us springs. Simple plastic springs, and she goes CRAZY for them, chasing them all over the house and entertaining herself for hours. Writing time secured!
“My precious…”
2 Examples of my kitten not interfering with my writing…
Nap time in the window beside my desk.
I totally need a cuteness blinder when she’s sleeping like this!
Tigre in her own desk space
Cats like to be near you, and if you’re writing, that probably means on your desk. To keep her off your stuff, give her a space to hang out in, like a box. The stereotype is true – cats can’t resist cardboard boxes!
Heather is a freelance screenwriter, game writer, and novelist based in Toronto. For more, visit her website at heatherjacksonwrites.com or follow her on Twitter @HeatherJacksonW
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33 thoughts on “K is for Kittens!”
Gorgeous post! Makes me miss my cat. She lives with my Mum now.
Loved the photos…
Love the kitty pictures! We have three here in the house, and there is always some commotion going on to get my attention to play. Usually there’s one or two up on the desk as I try to type around them. Good idea to have some cat toys handy to throw for them to chase. …Visiting from A to Z … Happy Blogging! 🙂
Ha! My kitty loves to pounce on the back of my chair! I’m lucky that she is always quite careful while walking along the desk. I taught her as a kitten not to step on the keyboard. A small miracle!
LOVE this post. LOL! I’ve been checking you out every day, wondering what had happened and why you had “fallen off the bus”. Then just now, I spotted I had saved the link to your G is for Genre page instead of your blog. DUH!!!! Glad to be back ON the bus with you! And I think your kitten is the cutest thing ever!
Or just get rid of the kitten 😉 Yes, yes I know, it’s much to cute. You do know the basic problem with cats is that the ancient Egyptians worshiped them as gods and they’ve never forgotten it.
Oh 😀 your cat is so cute! I will install a cardboard box on my desk just when i stop writing. And where can you get these springs? Our cat loves to play with cardboard rings, so i always have 5-10 on my desk to throw them around for him 🙂
Awwww. What cute pictures. Hubby wants to get a cat, but we have yet to do it. I refuse to go to the shelter because I will want to take ALL of them home.
Aw, yes, you may end up adopting ten cats! With Tigre we went in to the the shelter knowing she was the one we were getting. My friend found her on the street and brought her to the vet, where they nursed her back to health and put her up for adoption. So she was at the front desk waiting for us when we arrived!
My Rascal looks just like your sweet cat (although my cat is 23 years old)– they live forever! Fantastic tips – if only they would work for my chocolate lab – aargh! Thank you for a great Monday post! Visiting from A-Z Challenge
I can totally see why you get distracted. She is sooooo adorable!!! I love kitties. Wish I could have one or two but I have greyhounds and one of them for sure is not cat-friendly. I have met some of the coolest cats. I always thought cats were standoffish and not very social but in hanging out with some friends’ cats I found that to be false: some of them are just like dogs in their socializing. Cute cute cute pictures that you shared!
Michele at Angels Bark
Thanks, Michelle! A lot of people think cats are standoffish (and some are) until they meet a few friendly ones. Maybe one day you’ll meet a cat adorable enough to make even your greyhound love cats!
An excellent idea for a little light relief! And useful tips too. I’m not sure I would ever be able to resist her charms, so the hoody would become part of my writing uniform! Cute photos 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! I admit the first couple months we had her it was impossible not to be distracted, but luckily I’ve gotten used to it. Though now she’s developed a habit of purr-chirping to me. I just chirp back and she seems to accept that as a reply and go back to napping. 😉
Gorgeous post! Makes me miss my cat. She lives with my Mum now.
Loved the photos…
Melanie
A cuteness blinder, I love that! Although I am not sure it would work with your adorable kitty!
Ha! Well, I do my best.
It does until she chirps at me, then I turn my head to see what she wants and she’s all like, “Rub my adorable belly!” Five minutes instantly lost. 😉
I totally understand you. I have a kitty just like yours (he’s a tomcat too, but he’s a chabby one). So easy to get distracted when he’s around 🙂
True! What does “chabby” mean? The only definitions I can find are on Urban Dictionary, and I don’t think that’s the most reliable source.
I have an editor friend with a cat whose favourite chew toy is electrical cords. Not a good mix! Love the cute pictures. 🙂
Yikes! Our kitty isn’t much of a chewer, unless it’s yarn. I have to keep my grandmother’s crocheted blanket away from her.
Love the kitty pictures! We have three here in the house, and there is always some commotion going on to get my attention to play. Usually there’s one or two up on the desk as I try to type around them. Good idea to have some cat toys handy to throw for them to chase. …Visiting from A to Z … Happy Blogging! 🙂
Ha! My kitty loves to pounce on the back of my chair! I’m lucky that she is always quite careful while walking along the desk. I taught her as a kitten not to step on the keyboard. A small miracle!
LOVE this post. LOL! I’ve been checking you out every day, wondering what had happened and why you had “fallen off the bus”. Then just now, I spotted I had saved the link to your G is for Genre page instead of your blog. DUH!!!! Glad to be back ON the bus with you! And I think your kitten is the cutest thing ever!
Glad you’re back on the bus with us! Thanks for reading and I’ll pass on the cute compliment to kitty. 😉
I don’t think anything would work… I would insist on snuggling with that kitten. I’m doomed!!
Ha! Maybe you could start a career as a cat snuggler? For all the writers who need their kitty to stop distracting them for a couple hours. 😉
Or just get rid of the kitten 😉 Yes, yes I know, it’s much to cute. You do know the basic problem with cats is that the ancient Egyptians worshiped them as gods and they’ve never forgotten it.
Kitty does strut around here like she’s the gods’ gift to Apartment #3…
Oh 😀 your cat is so cute! I will install a cardboard box on my desk just when i stop writing. And where can you get these springs? Our cat loves to play with cardboard rings, so i always have 5-10 on my desk to throw them around for him 🙂
Thanks, Marie! The springs were a gift; I think my friend bought them at a pet store.
Very wise to use a large mug!
We adopted a cat several years ago, a decision we have been very glad we made!
The other benefit of a large mug, of course, is you get more tea/coffee! 😉
This is so cute.
Awwww. What cute pictures. Hubby wants to get a cat, but we have yet to do it. I refuse to go to the shelter because I will want to take ALL of them home.
~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee’s Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
Aw, yes, you may end up adopting ten cats! With Tigre we went in to the the shelter knowing she was the one we were getting. My friend found her on the street and brought her to the vet, where they nursed her back to health and put her up for adoption. So she was at the front desk waiting for us when we arrived!
My Rascal looks just like your sweet cat (although my cat is 23 years old)– they live forever! Fantastic tips – if only they would work for my chocolate lab – aargh! Thank you for a great Monday post! Visiting from A-Z Challenge
Ha! I don’t have a dog, so I have no advice to give on that!
She’s SO cute. Love how this post is both fun & functional 🙂
Thanks, Sabina! Fun and functional is always something to strive for!
I can totally see why you get distracted. She is sooooo adorable!!! I love kitties. Wish I could have one or two but I have greyhounds and one of them for sure is not cat-friendly. I have met some of the coolest cats. I always thought cats were standoffish and not very social but in hanging out with some friends’ cats I found that to be false: some of them are just like dogs in their socializing. Cute cute cute pictures that you shared!
Michele at Angels Bark
Thanks, Michelle! A lot of people think cats are standoffish (and some are) until they meet a few friendly ones. Maybe one day you’ll meet a cat adorable enough to make even your greyhound love cats!
Hi there – Very adorable! Good advice too. 🙂
Thanks, Diane! I figured everyone would appreciate cute photos on a Monday. 🙂
An excellent idea for a little light relief! And useful tips too. I’m not sure I would ever be able to resist her charms, so the hoody would become part of my writing uniform! Cute photos 🙂
Thanks, Melissa! I admit the first couple months we had her it was impossible not to be distracted, but luckily I’ve gotten used to it. Though now she’s developed a habit of purr-chirping to me. I just chirp back and she seems to accept that as a reply and go back to napping. 😉