Cleopa, my previously feral, mostly white cat, is now in training.

He already meows to get in, has a vast vocabulary for asking and responding to back scratching and feeding, and tells me when he wants to come out.

But this is not his final destination: it is to serve as a writer’s cat.

But before we explore your roles in this role, let me give you a little background.

Cleopa is not my only pet.

I also have Linus, a very fluffy miniature sheepdog. If you get a chance to see Tim Allen in Disney’s latest version of “The Shaggy Dog,” you’ll see a resemblance to Linus.

Technically, the breed is called a Bearded Collie, and he’s a great guy, my Linus.

But he’s not a writer’s dog; There’s no such thing.

Dogs are too needy, messy and distracting.

That’s why you need a cat. they are not

Here’s why they help you write:

(1) You can read your stuff to them. They will respond in exactly the same way as most editors, with a yawn, at best.

(2) They are relaxed. That’s what you have to be when you write. As I write these words, my sweet Cleopa is stretched out, her leg dangling dangerously over the side, in my genuine Eames ottoman. She is the spitting image of tranquility.

(3) They are good company and quite undemanding. Just watch them; most of the time, they don’t need us at all!

(4) If they had fingers instead of feet, they would also be writers. They have the perfect temperament for it.

(5) They will give you enough love and attention, and then leave you to your job. Dogs can never do this!

So if you’ve been stuck in mediocrity, suffered too much rejection, or just haven’t found the right voice, try a meow.

It just might be the cat pajamas for you!