Cat Person or Dog Person?

A fun question to ask your main character: are you a cat person or a dog person?

We all know the guy who loathes animals. He shifts away when a dog comes up to sniff him. He grimaces, mumbling something about wet-dog smell, before glaring at the unfortunate pet owner.

Then there are the people who love all animals. They might enjoy cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens, ponies, etc... They squeal in delight at every animal they see. They are the hand-clappers, the swooners, the must-pet-it-now people.

Everyone else boils down to cats and dogs. They favor one over the other without exception. And they have their own unique take on life.



Lets call our cat lover Muffy. Muffy visibly melts when a cat struts by. She oohs and ahhs at the adorable creature even as it snaps its haughty tail in the air. She adores cats, scoops them up and crushes them to her when they get too close. She also understands their independence and patiently gives them the space they need. Does it hurt her feelings when Fluffykins ignores her? Nope. If a dog walks by, she may pat it quickly, but she's not going to faint over it like she would a cat.

Then there's Chet. He automatically bends to ruffle a dog's fur whenever one trots up. He enjoys the companionship and loyalty of a dog. He'll play catch with the dog and he expects its devotion. Chet's never lonely because old Rover's always there, waiting to be petted. Cats don't rate in his book. He doesn't trust them. He may think one's cute, but he's never going to feel for it the way he feels for a dog.

How does this translate into character quirks? Anyway you want!

I like to pretend the characters' reactions to cats and dogs are similar to their reactions to the opposite sex. But you could study your character's gestures when reacting to an animal and use them in other situations.

Let's see how I would translate Muffy and Chet as a couple. She appreciates him , ladles him with praise and hugs, but doesn't expect him to spend every minute with her. He's very physical and affectionate, but Muffy questions this, not quite sure how to respond to such exuberance. She's used to giving affection but has a hard time being on the receiving end.

Chet likes relationships easy. He'll enjoy a dinner out with her, but he'll misunderstand Muffy's acceptance of his alone time and think she's not interested. He won't like that she's busy living her own life instead of waiting by the phone for him to call. And her hesitation to his affection will confuse him.

Any question you ask your character will provide insight into the way they act and why. When you're stuck, confused how they would react to a situation, apply the old cat or dog trick. It might not work every time, but it's fun!

Happy Writing!

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