Writing the “Purr-fect” Story:  Tips on How to Write a Fiction Book about Cats

Cats are adorable creatures. They are one of the most popular pets around the world, and humans certainly love to have cats as their companions. Contrary to the popular assumption that they are distant and aloof, cats are actually generally friendly and endearing in real life. In fact, many cats love to snuggle with their humans. Because of these interesting and lovable characteristics of cats, they have also become one of the best characters in fiction stories about animals.

William and Tibby Forever, a book written by Lynda Hamblen, is an example of a great fiction story with cats as its characters. The book is about two cats, William and Tibby, who live seemingly perfect lives with their second mom and her hon in a small gray house on a hill. However, when one of them dies, their story starts to become a whirlwind of emotions. Overall, William and Tibby Forever is a heartwarming story full of fun, feelings, and lessons. It is a story about life that never ends and love that never dies.

If you love cats like Lynda Hamblen, and you want to write a great story about your feline friends like William and Tibby Forever, then this article is especially for you. Below are some tips on how to write a fiction book about cats to help you come up with your own “purr-fect” story.  

Observe real-life cats

If you want to write an effective fiction book about cats, the first thing that you need to do is to observe actual cats. Usually, when authors write about something, they first look for some inspirations for their characters before starting to write. You should do the same thing. Before writing your cat story, look for some inspirations for your feline characters. Spend some time on observing real-life cats – what their personality are, how they usually respond to things, and what their common mannerisms are. Figure out how cats generally think, feel, and act. Get as much information about them as you can through observation and research. The more information you have about real-life cats, the more precise your feline characters will be.

Treat your feline characters as if they are humans

When you write about your characters, your mind automatically leads you to think about human emotions and motivations. How would a human being react to a certain situation? How would a person handle a certain challenge thrown at him or her? How do people solve their conflicts – these are the common questions that may come into your mind when you write about your characters.

When you write a book with cats as your characters, you should also try to consider human emotions and motivations as much as possible. Treat your feline characters as if they are humans. Give them emotions. Make their actions seem motivated. You can even have them possess the ability to talk. Personifying your feline characters will make them more relatable for the human readers just like the fur friends in William and Tibby Forever.

Make your feline characters adorable

In order to capture the interest of the readers, you need to make sure that the characters that you create are adorable and likeable. They should possess good traits that the readers will surely love. For example, you can make your feline characters clumsy and naïve to amuse the readers and make them laugh. You can also make them brave and fearless to impress the readers and give them the “wow” factor. Regardless of whatever traits you choose to give to your characters, make sure that the readers will be emotionally invested in them. This will convince the readers to read through your story.

Write a cat story with moral lessons

Fiction books are usually filled with moral lessons. Moral lessons are an important element of any fictional story. These moral lessons usually lead the readers to ponder upon things, and re-evaluate their choices and status in life. If you want to write a good story about cats that will truly touch the readers, then you need to emphasize certain lessons in your story. In William and Tibby Forever, for example, the main lessons that the readers can get from reading the story are the importance of family, friendship, and love. If you want the readers to get something significant from your story too, then do not just write a simple cat story, write an inspiring and valuable one!