Elusive, sleek, mysterious–am I talking about a poem or a cat? Our feline companions lend themselves to pithy poetry, so I had to answer the call for cat poems when I saw Brick Street Poetry’s contest announcement. My haiku is one of 9 finalists. (Get it – 9 finalists, 9 lives?)

You can read all the entries on their site. Then vote for your favorite through a donation to FACE Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic.

Visitors can vote for their favorite poems through Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017.

You’re also invited to a cat poem reading at 7pm, Saturday, September 9, 2017, at Nine Lives Cat Cafe, 1315 Shelby Street, Indianapolis.

Out of courtesy to the contest organizers, I won’t post my poem on this site, though you are welcome to read it on theirs. But I will show off Lucy, my feline muse for most of my cat poems.

As you see, Lucy was an extremely touchable long-haired cat.

Even the picture makes me want to pet her.

Know the feeling, cat lovers?

Lucy was not the brightest cat I ever owned by she was definitely the sweetest. Well, except for her habit of playing with plastic bags in the morning til I got up and fed her.

Here’s a great parody book cover my friend Sherry made of my cat and her dog:

I am not sure which is pride and which prejudice.

Have your pets made it into your writing? Tell me how in the comments.