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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

#187: Cat People

I love cats. Independent, sassy, badass, unbothered, adorable, playful, and cuddlier than popular culture makes them out to be, they’re one of life’s everyday miracles.

They live with us, but they are mysteries to us, and it can be incredibly fun to imagine their secret lives — and all the parts of their realities we aren’t privy to. This week, let’s think about ordinary and unusual cats alike, and take a moment to appreciate the magic they bring to our lives.

This week's prompts

Start your story with a character being led somewhere by a stray cat.

Adventure – 109 stories

Write a story from the point of view of a big cat — whether that’s a lion, cheetah, etc., or just a chunky pet.

Funny – 48 stories

Write about a cat living in an ancient temple, like the Acropolis.

Fiction – 17 stories

Set your story in a cat shelter.

Fiction – 24 stories

Write about a human and a cat that come to some kind of mutual understanding.

Character – 126 stories

Stories

“Bravely On” by Story Keatley

Submitted to Contest #187

As quickly as possible after their son left for college, Derek and Cathy sold their home in the big city and took up permanent residence in the plain but proud double wide that for the past 20 years had been dubbed their “country home.” The place soon looked lived in with flowering plants and rocking chairs on the porch and a red-barn storage building at the end of the brick walk leading from the front steps. Derek, a tall and stoic man, loved life there on the 40 partially wooded acres just outside a small town near Mark Twain Lake. &n...

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“The Reason” by D. Nestor

Submitted to Contest #187

The Reason By D. Nestor It was quiet in the room where he slept, but on the floor, near the room’s only window, dust danced in the bits of light that snuck in past the curtain. His heavy head jumped off the pillow at the sound of chirping birds bleeding from his phone’s speaker. He remembered himself and closed his eyes again. They shut desperately but slowly, and he sighed before opening them again, and sighing again. He might have made a wish, or said a prayer, or just thought of something he really wanted in that moment of light, dark and...

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“The Nightmare Ride: A TNR Tale” by Rebecca Rodriguez

Submitted to Contest #187

There were at least a hundred of us. Tricked by a can of tuna and trapped in spring-loaded cages. Within hours we were loaded into a trailer pulled by a big white truck. When the door closed, a small light came on and despair set it. The truck fired up, the trailer lurched and Cindy, a lovely white cat from D Street, let out a yowl. Gravel, then pavement and we were off. I was sure I knew every cat in town but I was wrong. There were cats of every ilk from streets and courts and avenues that I had never heard of. And as we glided...

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“Up the River Styx Without a Paddle, by Way of a White Cat” by Ethan Zimmerman

Submitted to Contest #187

He showed up before sunup to escort me to the gas chamber. Who am I? I’m Carmine, Two-face Ciccone. Prisoner number 8318139. Scheduled date of execution tomorrow, June 1st, at midnight o one. Stay of execution status: denied. Current situation since Charon showed up: fucked. He only appears on your legitimate last day. He wouldn't show if you were awarded a stay, only if it was a for sure thing. It was like he knew. According to prison lore, Charon will be with me for less than 24 hours. He had done this sort of thing for God knows ho...

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“Astray” by Alberto P.

Submitted to Contest #187

Content warning: This story contains references to the death of a pet due to violence. “Feel free to run away”. Not the usual stray cat, are you?, I thought to myself. I could barely spot its black fur. The street lamp above my head was buzzing and humming, but the cat was sitting just outside the cone of light. “Or stay there”. He did just that. Always late, I thought as I turned impatiently in my seat. A time table was hanging right next to me. I kept looking at it for some reason, and it in turn stared right back at me, completely usele...

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“Green-Eyed Jack” by Carissa Cherrington

Submitted to Contest #187

The cat appeared with the storm. I had been lost and wandering through the forest for what had felt like three lifetimes but couldn’t have been more than an hour or two. Mother had ordered me out to pick berries for a pie she wanted to bake to impress the magistrate. She hoped to convince him to marry me, despite my protests. Conversation with the magistrate was drier than bones and I had never seen the man smile. I had marched off into the forest instead of collecting berries and in my state of indignatio...

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“The Black Cat ” by Yash Kaipa

Submitted to Contest #187

contains: drug abuse, and lots of violence It was my first night outside, kicked out by my mom, an addict, to cope with the loss of my dad. This was… a long time ago, 23 years ago, I think. I didn’t remember much before the drugs. I’m writing this in jail, after 6 months of entering. This night was the hardest. I wanted to go back home, so badly, but I knew the pain my mom would put me through if I went back. I tried to sleep, cold, and wearing nothing but a thin beat-up jacket I found on the street. It’s really hard to lay down, especial...

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“Not A Sign” by Kate Dubbs

Submitted to Contest #187

I don’t really believe in signs. I would say I’m a pretty skeptical person. This cat though. This cat, with those fluffy large black ears and a splash of white fur painted across his face, this cat made me wonder if signs existed. He stared at me as I locked up my brothers comic book shop, an annoying detour I had to take from my usual law office in downtown LA. I was already in a foul mood having to do this favor to help out, and in no mindset to indulge a stray cat stoically making eye contact with me from across the street.&...

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“I missed you, Kitty” by Noon Moon

Submitted to Contest #187

Harold walked out of the store with his bags, looking up at the sky as a soft breeze rustled his hair. It was a peaceful day, the kind that reminded him of his late wife. As he made his way to his car, a cute little kitten appeared out of nowhere and started meowing at his feet. Harold bent down and smiled at the kitten. "Well, hello there little one. What are you doing out here all alone?" The kitten looked up at Harold with big, curious eyes and then started rubbing against his leg. Harold chuckled and pulled out a piece of leftover chicke...

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“Two Lonely Strays” by Katie DeShane

Submitted to Contest #187

When I left the house this morning, I did not anticipate being led astray by a stray cat. If I had, perhaps I would have chosen more appropriate footwear. As it is, my suede pumps will never be the same, thanks to the river of blood I find myself standing in. I was enjoying an early morning wander through my local farmer’s market, inspecting produce and giggling at inappropriate tea towels, when I felt something warm brush up against my leg. It was a cat! An orange tabby, slightly mangy with no collar, was weaving its way between my legs, ...

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“Let Sleeping Cats Lie” by Gabby Agho

Submitted to Contest #187

The arched back and the long upright tail held an intriguing beckon. Following curiously, I journeyed forward not knowing why or where I was headed. Now and again, the creature would pause and wait for me to catch up, its face askance, as if to say, “could you just keep up?” Curiosity had gotten the better of me. My body could stop and turn back or refrain from going on. From following. But my spirit’s strong urges gave my feet flight, and my body responded to the injection of adrenaline accordingly. On reaching the edge of the woods...

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“A Striped Adventure” by Zayla Campbell

Submitted to Contest #187

I growled, and then roared at the people in front of the glass that kept me locked away. I hated the people that visited the Zoo, especially the children. They laugh at anything and everything I do. I hate when they tap on the glass, and I hate when the adults try to keep their kids safe like I’ll attack. Like I could even attack. I hated being stuck, and I envied the other cuter animals. Like the penguins who also had plenty of water to swim in. I would like to swim, but do the stupid humans think of that, no. If I were free of this wretche...

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“Boo ” by Sarah Shaar

Submitted to Contest #187

Boo came into our lives in the summer of 2010. He had big, soul piercing Blue eyes and an unmistakable, annoying loud cat meow. He was a stray at Birch Pointe Apartments in Beaverton, Oregon. The first time I noticed him he was sitting under a hedge near our apartment. He was watching people passing by and hiding. He looked like a Yoda from Star Wars. Earlier that week, I had seen a young man carrying out furniture from a downstairs apartment across the courtyard from us. He looked like he was struggling and hurrying to get out. ...

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“Friends appear in all Forms” by Barbara McCloskey

Submitted to Contest #187

Friends appear in all Forms It was a strange day all the way around. I got up way too early this morning around five o’clock which always makes my day too long. Then my brother called during breakfast and asked me to pick up a part he ordered from the hardware store, which turned out to be a wild goose chase. The part wasn’t scheduled to come in until Saturday and today was Tuesday. I was really upset with him for sending me on this needless errand, but he has a history for getting information wrong, so I shouldn’t have been surprised. I l...

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“Wally's Cat ” by George Georgerfrost@gmail.com

Submitted to Contest #187

The rules say I can’t have a pet of any kind. It’s posted right there on the wall with all the other stuff. I’ve lived here for over five years. Ever since my mother died and the state people came to take me. They put me here. It’s nice and all, but I miss my mother. My name is Walter Hanaratty and I live at St. Vincent’s Adult Home for people that are cognitively challenged, like me. I am on the Blue Team. Jennifer Garrett is in charge of us. I like her. She is pretty and says things my mothe...

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$250

Prize money

324

Contest entries

117

Stories

Ended on 23:59 - Mar 03, 2023 EST

Won by Michelle Oliver 🏆

Title: Mitzee’s Moment

Submissions must be between 1,000 - 3,000 words and will be approved and published on Reedsy Prompts within 7 days of the contest closing.

Read the full terms & conditions or check out the FAQ if you have any questions!

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