Carl Van Vechten — American Writer born on June 17, 1880, died on December 21, 1964

Carl Van Vechten was an American writer and artistic photographer who was a patron of the Harlem Renaissance and the literary executor of Gertrude Stein... (wikipedia)

As an inspiration to the author, I do not think the cat can be over-estimated. He suggests so much grace, power, beauty, motion, mysticism. I do not wonder that many writers love cats; I am only surprised that all do not.
There is, indeed, no single quality of the cat that man could not emulate to his advantage.
The cat, it is well to remember, remains the friend of man because it pleases him to do so and not because he must.
An ordinary kitten will ask more questions than any five-year-old.
A cat is never vulgar.