Jane Austen didn't write much about cats. In fact, the only reference I can find in her major works is a single line in Sense and Sensibility, in which Mrs. Jennings complains to Colonel Brandon about losing Elinor and Marianne as guests:
"Ah! Colonel, I do not know what you and I shall do without the Miss Dashwoods;"… Lord! we shall sit and gape at one another as dull as two cats." [Vol. III, Chapter III (39)]
I don't think my lively little feline, Phoebe Georgiana (after Georgiana Darcy of Pride and Prejudice) would approve of being characterized as dull. But then again, this did come from Mrs. Jennings, who clearly did not have the good fortune to cohabitate with a kitty.
For life with a cat is anything but dull. Phoebe is always surprising me by taking up new pursuits. For example, just the other day she embarked on her summer reading program, which commenced with her cracking my book.
Which she then devoured in a single sitting.
To top it off, Phoebe was chosen today by one of my favorite publishing industry blogs, GalleyCat, for the Galleycat Summer Cat competition. Please click here to vote for Phoebe before 12:01 a.m. (Eastern) Monday morning.
And If you'd like to read the Galleycat piece about Phoebe, click here.
If you'd like to see more photos of Phoebe, click here.
Phoebe and I thank you for your vote!
And many thanks to Deborah Zeitman, fine writer and Phoebe's personal wildlife photographer, for snapping these pictures.
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