Popular cat videos on the internet often depict owners diligently working while their cats mischievously interfere, suggesting that cats are naturally inclined to disrupt their owners. However, Japanese author Akira Sugano recently reminisced about her white cat named Nyanta (ニャン太), who was quite the opposite. Nyanta not only refrained from disturbing her work but would even encourage her to write when she had been idle for too long, effectively becoming the most responsible editor.
Nyanta's Supportive Nature
Sugano shared a touching memory: "After moving, I hadn’t written a novel for about two weeks. Suddenly, Nyanta, who usually didn’t make much noise, called out and led me to my second-floor studio. As soon as I started typing on my computer, he settled down with a look of 'good job'." Nyanta enjoyed watching her write and was truly a great help.
Reflections on Loss
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Sugano expressed her heartfelt emotions about Nyanta, who passed away twenty years ago. She recalled crying daily after his death and how her nephew suggested that Nyanta must have learned to speak human language to leave her side. This thought brought her to tears again, and she struggled to write for some time after his passing.
Life After Nyanta
Sugano described how her world revolved around Nyanta, who taught her the joy of living with a cat. "I felt that Nyanta was more mature than I was and taught me many things," she said. Currently, Sugano lives with two mischievous brother cats that often disrupt her writing. Despite this, she finds their antics fitting for her current needs: "The brother cats frequently hinder my work. Once it’s past 8 PM, they surround me, jumping and meowing like labor inspectors. But perhaps this is a good thing for me now."
The Ideal Cat Companion
Sugano's reflections raise an interesting question for writers: Would they prefer a cat that acts like a responsible editor or one that behaves like a labor inspector?
