Who Are the Cat Writers’ Association: Marjorie Dawson

by 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 Marjorie Dawson. As a youngster Marjorie travelled all over Europe with her family and picked up bits of languages here and there before she lived in London for over 20 years.  

She writes:

“London is a busy capital city packed with culture and museums, so it was a great place to be. London is where we found our first cats (all strays) and made them welcome. Eventually the call to travel far away came, and we moved to New Zealand with 99 boxes and four cats.

Yes, some people were surprised by us paying four adult fares for the cats…”

About My Craft:

I began as a writer recording Dash’s life and times here in New Zealand. Sharing his life as a disabled cat on Blogger was a great introduction to storytelling, although my photography was not great in those days! Even after he died, his example as a fundraising cat who tirelessly helped others inspired many causes. Thanks to him, so much good was done in the world through social media fundraisers for cat and dog health and welfare.

When I began to explore photography, I jumped online, keen to learn about photographing cats. Frustratingly, and to my disappointment, all I found were resources with  a strong focus on dogs. No rats, fish, or bearded dragons; pet photography was largely focused on dogs. As a new camera user I lacked the confidence at the time to ‘think a cat into the dog’s place’ and felt really discouraged.

I was determined to find a class to help so I could learn about taking photos, then ‘focus’ on my favourite subject—cats. I discovered Digital Camera Mastery, a friendly and well-paced online course, and found myself more confident. Online courses can change attitudes and lives; this one changed mine.

Then I realised that many cat photographers might be discouraged just like me by the ‘invisibility’ of cats, so I started sharing my discoveries. Blogging about cat photography, specifically at the beginner level, became my thing with Dash Kitten, and I love to encourage others as they improve. The response has been really positive too

How Cats Inspire My Creativity:

My cats inspire me with their confidence, self-belief, and beauty. Thanks to them and their modelling skills, I continue to improve my photography and editing skills, and after a lot of hard work, I was honoured with CWA Muse® Medallions for my images and for Dash Kitten’s blog.

What I Enjoy About Belonging to CWA:

Belonging to a community of creatives linked by a common bond is very important to me. I can enjoy the work of fellow writers and artists and cheer them on during the Communications Contest, which is such an important part of the CWA’s year. I read and hear about new works created by members, and I am able to share these on social media. If everyone shared a Cat Writers’ Association post once a day, we could share so much cat news and reach so much further.

Mollie: What is your favorite cat movie and why?

‘Flow,’ the animation that just won Latvia’s first Oscar. It manages to tell a story of excitement, depth, and wonder with a strong narrative, great visual beauty, and a superb musical soundtrack, all without a single word being spoken.

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

Three Swarovski crystal cat ornaments, one Scentsy black cat mini warmer, one HarPURR stuffie (Instagram friend), and a Halloween Lego® kit of a black cat and pumpkin. (I need to make room for my new Lego Tuxedo cat I just finished).

And a real tortoiseshell cat…

Mollie: “Adopt, Foster, Volunteer, Donate, Educate” is a common slogan for animal rescue. What do you like to do?

Educate.

Sharing information on social media and blogs about cat news such as local low-price/free spay/neuter clinics and TNR, cat health developments such as the latest on Hypertropic Cardiomyopathy, and cat safety is a totally free way to reach and help so many cat lovers. You can make a real difference because your followers listen to you and what you say. Every year CWA writers create educational posts that reach a big audience. They are gold dust and prove that educating people helps open eyes and minds.

An example of impact is the post I created on the danger of lilies to cats. It is a short post that continues to get traffic because people often don’t realise the dangers of such a beautiful flower.

Also! Educate yourself to use your camera well. Whether it’s a smartphone or a mirrorless/DSLR. Your photographs could get a cat adopted or even win awards. You can open the door to forever homes for cats,kittens, seniors, and disabled cats with photos you take at a rescue where you volunteer. The images don’t have to be perfect. Your aim is to capture the personality of a cat or kitten. (Yes, it comes with practice, so keep trying!)

Mollie: In your cat’s words, tell us how you would save the world.

Toulouse stepped up for this one. “Miss Mollie, if I may be so bold… Insure your cat. OK, it would not save the world for every cat, BUT it saved the world for me. I cost Mum a lot when I had a perineal uresosthomy, and I know cats have died because it is a very expensive procedure some people cannot afford. Please consider it, and maybe save the world for your cat.”

Mollie: Tell us a true cat story.

Pippen watched the young cat interloper settle on his favourite pouffe at the cat café with irritation. He frowned at the impudence. This was too much! Even with his condition of myasthenia, he could bump the cheeky youngster off, and he knew it.

After a moment to gather his strength, Pippen pushed up onto his slightly wobbly paws and took a few steps out of the carrier that brought him daily from his home to the cat café run by his family. He fixed the young cat with a determined glare, hoping this would deter the cheeky tuxedo and encourage him to move. Nope, this was going to need firmer action, so he took a breath….

HUP! Pippen launched himself with all his strength up onto the pouffe, gripping the fabric firmly with his claws. Scrambling and wriggling over the edge, he sat down, then leaned heavily onto the young tuxie who, bit by bit gave way, wriggling out from under the determined older cat.

With a light leap to the ground, the youngster relinquished his place on the pouffe.  Pippen snuggled contentedly down for his day supervising at the cat café.

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

These are selected highlights of the Dash Kitten Crew membership:

Sienna – tortoiseshell and matriarch of the Dash Kitten Crew. Her preferred place is on her dad’s lap when he is trying to finish the crosswords he edits for British newspapers. She has mild kidney disease but is thriving on Astro’s Oil and supplements. She is in charge.

Taz – super model and a cat who loves his dad! He sits still for photographs and disproves the myth that you can’t take a photo of black cats.

Sunny – junior tortie. Foster fail and a lively member of the Dash Kitten Crew who is one of our loudest shouters! Sienna does her best to ignore the small tortie interloper!

Toulouse — born in some of New Zealand’s wildest country in the Wairarapa. He has settled down to be an important (and photogenic) member of the family. His moment of glory so far has been a 4.30 a.m. emergency vet visit with a blocked urinary passage and a bill of several thousand dollars for corrective surgery.

Miranda – a tuxedo who narrowly escaped death when an unknown person shot her with a crossbow. She is the poster girl for the emergency vets and recipient of blood donated by a dog (apparently, it can be done once before the cat builds up antibodies, and dog blood lasts longer than cat blood).

Teddy – large fluffy tuxedo rescue who came to us at four years old without being neutered. He has settled into our home wonderfully, and his party trick is to lie on his back showing off his fluffy tum.

You can find Marjorie Dawson on her website Dash Kitten.

---

About the Author