Who Are the Cat Writers’ Association: K Colitti

In conversation with Mollie Hunt.

Who are the Cat Writers’ Association? is a series of interviews with CWA members, but not your usual who, what, and where discussion. I like to ask a different set of questions and am always amazed by the answers. I hope you are too.

Our guest today on Who are the Cat Writers’ Association? is K Colitti. K Colitti is a lawyer and writer whose work has been published in, among others, Animal Welfare (Cambridge University Press) and Global Journal of Animal Law. She grew up in Ukraine, spent over a decade in the U.S., and, since 2012, lives in Belgium. She holds an MSc in international animal welfare, ethics, and law; a JD; an MA in economics for competition law; and a BA in Political Science. She writes on Substack about cat health and welfare, cat care with a focus on older cats, the human-cat relationship, cats in the arts, and cat loss grief.

Part 1:

About My Craft:

I write non-fiction. I have two monthly Substack publications: Letters to Mosi (cat loss grief) and Minding Mittens (everything else cat-related). Within Minding Mittens, I have a sub-newsletter called Meowterials and Methods, focused on bringing my readers recent research into cat welfare and behavior in an easy-to-understand and engaging way.

My writing ranges from serious and informational to amusing to raw and tender. My writing is accompanied by my original art (drawing, watercolor, other painting, or sculpture) or photographs.

How Cats Inspire My Creativity:

Oh, in so many ways. I love drawing my cat from photographs or from observation, though often the former is easier as my live model tends to be too wiggly. I also draw and paint small cat-themed objects found around my house – magnets, art, teacups, cat-shaped flower pots, embroidery, cat designs on clothes, and so on.

My writing is almost entirely cat-focused. On the more amusing side, I play a game of “cat spotting” when out and about, looking for cat-themed street art and traditional art (in galleries and museums), books, and so on. I then research and write about what I found. I read books and research articles about cats and weave what I learn into my writing. I also draw on my many years of experience living with cats.

One day, I dream of writing a book about my life with cats, with my own illustrations and those of my sister (a professional artist).

What I Enjoy About Belonging to CWA:

I love the opportunity to meet like-minded people and participate in creative projects that help improve the quality of information and discourse about cats, and ultimately enhance the human-cat bond and cat welfare.

Part 2:

Mollie: Did you grow up with cats?

K Colitti: No, but growing up, I dreamt of sharing my life with cats. As soon as I was out of college, I adopted two kitties.

Mollie: What is your earliest memory of being around cats?

K Colitti: I remember cats in the remote Ukrainian village where my family had a home. We spent our summers there, and I was allowed to “adopt” a cat for the summer. She was a gray tabby, and it broke my heart to part with her when we returned home. I looked for her next year but never found her.

What crosses your mind when someone tells you they don’t like cats?

K Colitti: First, what a mean statement to make. Also, unfortunately, it is a lot more accepted to make these types of statements about cats, whereas you rarely hear someone say this about dogs. People who make these types of statements often have little to no experience with cats. And, even if they did have a negative experience, I am sure that it was not the cat’s fault. People misunderstand and vastly overhandle cats. Cats are not mini-dogs. They can’t be expected to act or react the same.

If the dislike is rooted in the differences between cats and dogs, I also think that people who say this must be very needy if they need constant adoration and can’t take cats’ independent nature.

In general, I stay away from people who make statements like that. And if I can, and especially if the person has an online platform from which they are broadcasting meanness and anti-cat prejudice, I make a statement before departing their orbit, explaining the power of words in prejudice formation and flagging the difference between the acceptance of these types of statements about cats vs. dogs.

Mollie: What does your cat think of you?

K Colitti: I think Margo likes me. She purrs when I touch her, and rubs against me, and pushes her little body next to my thigh when we sit together on the couch. She’s not a lap cat, but she gives affection in many other ways. When I walk into the room and sit down, she leaves her bed and comes to hang out with me. I think all these are pretty good signs of a good human-cat relationship.

Mollie: Tell us a true cat story.

K Colitti: I’m terrified, but I say, “Margo, come here, kitty-cat,” in the calmest, most ordinary tone of voice I can muster. I am kneeling on my office table in front of the open window. The window leads onto the roof, and, somewhere on the roof, beyond my field of vision, is my gray tuxedo cat, Margo. We are usually very careful and only open windows with doors closed, but today I slip.

As soon as I realize the mistake, I run through the house, counting cats. Maya and Mosi haven’t noticed that the window is open and are going about their business in the living room, but Margo is nowhere to be found. Increasingly frantic, I call her name as I go room-to-room. Finally, I hear a faint “meow” from the office window.

She’s not in distress, but she’s very skittish. She knows what she’s allowed to do and what’s off limits. If she suspects that she did something prohibited, she may run off. She’s hanging around quite close to the window, and I just have to lure her back.

My siren song finally works, and a gray-and-white shape materializes on the other side of the window frame. As soon as I can, I stretch out my arms and wrap them around her midsection. I push the window closed. Whew, this was a close call.

Mollie: Do you sing to cats? If so, what songs do you sing?

K Colitti: Yes. I used to sing lullabies to Mosi and Maya when they were very elderly. I did it very softly, almost like humming, and they seemed to like it and find it soothing.

Mollie: What cat-themed item is sitting on your desk right now?

K Colitti: I have mousepads with photos of my kitties and a Post-it note holder shaped like a cat.

Please give us the names and short descriptions of your cats.

I spent nearly two decades in the company of three cats: Maya, Mosi, and Margo. Maya was a brightly colored calico, her fur an explosion of orange, black, and white. She was adopted from a shelter in Boston, MA, and shared 18 beautiful years with us. She passed away in 2023 at the age of almost 19. 

Mosi was a tabby and white, rescued from Hurricane Katrina. She had double thumbs and lived to be 21. She accompanied us on a few road trips and was brave, adventurous, and all around exceptional.

Margo is 18. She is a gray tuxedo with a delicious black nose. She has white socks on all her paws, and she’s silly and playful despite her advanced age.

All three moved from the US to Belgium with us.

You can find K Colitti online at (12) Minding Mittens by K. Colitti | Substack

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