Cats or Dogs (Day 5)

_{Phineas – I call him the perfect cat. I think he believes he is.}

Today’s prompt is one for those who love cats and dogs, or who hate them…though I can’t imagine hating animals. I’m in the camp of loving all God’s creatures, from smallest (ok, bugs are a bit of an issue) to greatest. But I can understand how some can be insensitive to some of God’s creatures, or fearful, even the domestic kind. This is usually from lack of exposure or from a bad experience. But I cannot ignore the things that God took time to create and design with such intricate detail. Except maybe fleas and ticks. For me, I have always had pets. Namely cats- since I grew up living in apartments. Dogs usually weren’t allowed. Horses weren’t an option, though not for me not longing for one, especially after reading The Secret Horse by Marion Holland, in elementary school!

Today’s journaling tip: Remember there are no rules to your journaling. The prompts and structures are to help you discover how approachable and accessible journaling really is! It’s easy to have preconceived ideas about all that “journaling” is or is not. It’s much different to realize a paper and pen is a powerful tool in the hands of a truth seeking heart!

Prompt 5 – Cats and Dogs

If you have time to spare try this prompt on for size. If needed you can break this into two sessions:

Let’s make a list: write headers across the top of your page: Cats, Dogs, Other . You will have three columns. Now you need to think back to every cat, dog or other pet you have owned (we acknowledge here that cats can’t be owned, they own their owners- Ha!). This may take a few minutes, so sit and do the work of digging into your memory archives as far back as feels comfortable (or that you can actually recall). Once you have compiled the list of all the cats and dogs and other creatures you have owned you have two possibilities for the second part of this prompt.

Choose one of the pets and write all you can remember about that pet. Write one story that comes to mind as you actively remember and write as you feel led.
Depending how many animals are on your list, go ahead and write a little bit about each one in the amount of time you set for yourself.

Write about a stray cat or dog or other creature you found, or took in temporarily. Tell the story of how you found them. You can also write about any cat or dog (or other creature) who you are fond of that belongs to someone else but owns a piece of your heart.

Pet Regrets- write about a regret you have surrounding an animal you owned.

Choose a quote to jump off- and remember, the quote that you most agree with may not be your best responsive writing prompt, but the one that provokes you in some ways…that you disagree with, or find it grates you in some way. That could be the one to do battle with, taking up your pent to duel on paper. I think of thought provoking prompts as good fighting words. They bring out something in me, helping to grow me, and helping me clarify my thoughts and opinions:

“Time spent with cats is never wasted.” -Sigmund Freud

“Dogs are not our whole lives, but they make our lives whole.” – Roger Caras

“Until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.” – Anatole France

“You cannot share your life with a dog … or a cat, and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings.” – Jane Goodall

“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Write a silly love song to you cat or dog. Bonus points if you sing it to them after you finish!

Just have fun with this prompt! It’s raining cats and dogs so…you know what to do!