the companion and the cat

[kard]

is there a specific reason or meaning that Jhary has a cat and no other animal? pet could be the wrong word, since one has the feeling that this animal has a certain kind of intelligence which also saved the EC and his companion in some situations. so, why a cat? could it be a reminiscence to other stories like Lovecrafts Cats of Ulthar (they were also flying ones), or even to those of Gertrude in Peakes Gormenghast? would another animal (letآ´s say, a bird) have made a difference?

cheers,
kard

[Michael Moorcock]

The cats (big and small) in all my stories are firmly based on my own cats. Terry Pratchett and I are agreed on this -- cats believe authors are a superior kind of cat. They sit about all day apparently doing nothing and frequently go out for walks at night. And for this they get fed and otherwise looked after. As I speak the black panther from Dreamthief's Daughter (and The White Wolf's Son) is sitting on my shoulder.... The black and white cat who is Jhary'[s companion is based on my other cat Bill (christened -- shudder -- Bilbo by the little girl who gave it to us).
Cats are natural companions to writers, though dogs can be fine, too,
especially since they get the author to exercise. My cats go out on leashes in certain parts of the world (Texas where rednecks score points for every one they hit) so I also get a reasonable amount of exercise.

[kard]

Bilbo - aha! that explains a lot! all those anti-hobbit polemics - just camouflage :D

thanks for the answer. many writers seem to have cats, and there has to be some connection. i recently saw a poster in a bookshop display that said something like: "there are many things you can forego, but not cats and books.

[Dead-Air]

When I lived on the Eld Inlet off Puget Sound I used to take longish walks with my late cat and eternal companion along the beach.

"Michael Moorcock has a cat named Bilbo" is just too good of a song title to pass up!

[Michael Moorcock]

When the rednecks drive by seeing me with my cat and shouting witticisms like 'Yore supposed ter have a dawg on the end of thet leash,
haw, haw, haw" I reply to them in French.
You might as well play into the prejudices I say.
I pretend I'm Colette.
She used to walk her cats every day, too. Though probably with fewer
Texas rednecks around...

[Kitsune]

Rednecks actually range at least as far North as Indianana... I suspect they range as far a Canada but I've never had a chance to do the research....

Can any of our Canadian breathran provide us with that data?

When the rednecks drive by seeing me with my cat and shouting witticisms like 'Yore supposed ter have a dawg on the end of thet leash,
haw, haw, haw" I reply to them in French.
You might as well play into the prejudices I say.
I pretend I'm Colette.
She used to walk her cats every day, too. Though probably with fewer
Texas rednecks around...

[Michael Moorcock]

Canadians don't count. Half of them are French already.
Would they be blousons bleus ?

[Dead-Air]

Well, in Washington state, the rednecks are certainly as far north as Blaine, which is right on the border. I'm sure the lower Canadian drinking age, and prevalence of B.C. strip clubs has something to do with it

[MissDreamy]

Yeah, I had the same kind of problem when I took my dear departed Sootie on a leash. I was in Bognor Regis at the time (not out of choice, though). Sussex rednecks I suppose! More along the lines of 'That's a bit fahking stupid ain't it? Walking a fahking cat' I was only twelve at the time, so I was mildly traumatised by the experience. Sootie also didn't go near me for weeks afterwards as her cat-pride had obviously been ruined by the humiliation of it all.

Can't see Barney (my Mum's latest companion) on a leash. I love cats - bless their funny turns. At the moment with Barney it's Flea Paranoia. Refuses flat out to walk across my mum's carpets and will try any route to avoid them, a sort of let's use every piece of furniture as stepping stones, much to her delight :lol:

[Anonymous]

At 4.21 AM should you not be dreaming MissDreamy.

[MissDreamy]

It's 14.15 here, mate. But yeah, I'm normally dreaming, even at work! :D