I didn’t even know there was a controversy—I’m quite sure other cat fiction authors and their readers didn’t either. I was contacted this morning by someone from National Public Radio, probably because of the article appearing in the Wall Street Journal this week (the one that mentioned me and the Klepto Cat Mystery series–on the front page!). They want to pursue the “debate” about talking cats versus silent cats in fiction on a show airing this evening. Hopefully we will connect today.
As I said, I didn’t know there was a dispute or argument. I thought there were just authors 
who write books featuring talking cats and those who don’t. The cats in the Klepto Cat Mystery series happen to be ordinary cats with a few extraordinary habits. Oh, a cat can communicate alright, using her body, eyes, ears, tail. Any cat person can recognize when their cat wants out or in, wants to be petted, doesn’t want to be bothered, wants to play, is tired of playing, is bored, frightened, excited, sad, hungry, angry, or annoyed. In fact, cats are so good at expressing themselves and those of us who love our cats are so eager to please them, cat owners are sometimes considered “staff.”
What will I say about the controversy? The cats in my stories certainly communicate, but not using human vocabulary. Nor do they talk to humans through ESP. But that doesn’t mean I think it’s wrong to feature talking cats in stories. Each to his own way of perceiving and enjoying cats.
