My Cats Write My Blog. I'm Just Along for the Ride!

Not all blogs are created equal. Writing can be done in different forms, one of which is done from the animal’s perspective. Today I’m sharing how I developed the voice of my blog and my feelings about writing from a pet’s point of view. 

This post is sponsored by the BlogPaws® Pet Influencer Network™. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about how BlogPaws helps educate and inspire pet influencers but Lola The Rescued Cat only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. BlogPaws is not responsible for the content of this article.

How I Started Writing in my Cat’s voice

When I adopted Lola, there was a small group of people follwing her story on Facebook. To keep receiving updates on her progress a few of them suggested  I start a Facebook page for her. When I sat down to write her first report, I wondered “How do I do this? Do I write the updates myself, or should I have Lola write them?” I thought Lola was (and still is) more endearing and entertaining than I am (and a lot cuter, too), so I decided to have her tell her own story. 

I could have written a very dry update such as: 

“Lola is recovering nicely and is coming home tomorrow. I have her bed all ready for her.” 

Lola comfy in her new bed. 

But Lola, with her energetic personality, wrote: 

“I’m going home tomorrow! Everyone at the hospital is fussing over me and hugging me and telling me how happy they are for me. The hospital even posted about me on their Facebook page. I know I need my beauty sleep so I can look good for my new mom tomorrow, but I’m so excited I won’t sleep a wink!” 

See the difference?  Lexy got introduced into the page when I was writing about their introduction process, which was quite a frustrating ordeal at times. They were both very detailed about their interactions, and a few people even commented that they learned from our experiences.

Lola used to hide from Lexy in the wall unit. Now she's too big to fit there.

Lola’s posts got very good engagement and feedback. Writing from her perspective held the reader’s attention and telling the story through her eyes drew the reader in to want to learn more about her. I decided to continue writing updates in this manner, and before I knew it I had 1000 followers. 

Writing From an Animal's POV is not as easy as it seems.

Some may consider that writing from an animal’s perspective is easy, and it does not always garner the respect it deserves. In order to do it well, it takes a lot of thought and some creativity to go along with it. I had to develop Lola’s and Lexy’s characters. They have two very different personalities, with different vocabularies. Lola will use words such as “poopy”, and phrases like “Oh my stars!” while Lexy’s vocabulary includes the words “serendipitous” and “happenstance.” Lola’s dialog is full of exclamation points, while Lexy’s is more subtle. Lola’s excitement over life can be seen in every introduction to her posts as she says “Hello, and Happy Friday!”. Lexy’s introductions are more subdued with a simple “Hello, everyone” as she gets directly to the point (“This is Lexy checking in with important information about pet dental health”.) Lola wants the reader to guess what’s coming, but gets so excited she can’t wait to divulge the surprise (“Do you know what today is? Go ahead, take a guess. OK, never mind, let me just tell you.”) And Lola calls me “Mommy” while Lexy refers to me as “Mother.” 

Lexy: "Who are you?" Lola: "I'm Lola. I live here now." Lexy: "We'll see about that."

When writing posts, I need to be mindful of the differences in verbiage, particularly when there is an exchange between the two of them. I have to remember their personalities and how each would respond. At times when I’m writing something, I’ll say to myself “Lola wouldn’t say that” or “That sounds more like Lola than Lexy”, and I’ll have to re-do a paragraph or change the idea and direction of the post altogether. 

It’s much easier, and quicker, for me to write in my own voice. When I write as Lola or Lexy I must get my creative juices flowing. The way I portray them currently has been a work in progress over six years. It's still not perfect, but I think it improves as it (and I) evolve. 

Writing from an Animals Perspective is Real Writing

There are many blogs in the blogosphere that are written from the pet’s POV. I admire how well written many of them are and look forward to their updates. Their posts are a breath of fresh air at the end of a hectic work day or a welcome distraction from the news of the world. I’m sure these bloggers would agree that writing creatively in this style is real writing. I’m also sure Anna Sewell, George Orwell, Richard Adams and Bruce Cameron (authors of Black Beauty, Animal Farm, Watership Down and A Dog’s Purpose, respectively) would also agree. New York Times best-selling author Gwen Cooper wrote her book Love Saves the Day partly in the voice of the main character, Prudence, who is a cat. I heard Gwen speak at an event where she shared that her publisher asked for this type of book. Kudos to her publisher! And Janiss Garza recently released Rescued Volume 2: The Healing Stories of 12 Cats, Through Their Eyes - an anthology of rescue stories, told by the cats themselves. 

Lexy getting her own treats.  Some things never change - except her weight!

Should a Blogger Write in Their Pet's Voice?

The question may arise about whether this is the appropriate form for a blog. My opinion is that it depends on what the blogger wants to convey to their readers and how they choose to express it. I’ve read quality product reviews, articles, and everything in between written from the pet’s POV. I believe a blogger should stay true to their mission and vision, and adjust as this changes. 

Lola admiring her collar in the mirror.

If I didn’t write in Lola and Lexy’s voice I wouldn’t have a Facebook page, a blog or a book. None of it would have a purpose for me, nor would I have much to write about. This is what works for me, and until I change my mission or vision Lola and Lexy will continue to entertain our readers with their wit and share their view of the world. You know what? It’s fun. And shouldn’t there be some fun in blogging? 
Dawn

These are early photos of Lola and Lexy and were the beginning of my inspiration to write. 


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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of BlogPaws. The opinions and text are all mine.