Animal Subjectivity and Ethics of Care: Human-Nonhuman Relations in Doris Lessing’s On Cats

Abstract

This study aims to analyse Doris Lessing’s On Cats through the lenses of animal subjectivity and ethics of care theory in the context of animal behaviours and human-nonhuman relations. Ethics of care in animal studies, which emphasises observing and communicating with non-human animals and caring for them, provides a theoretical foundation for understanding On Cats. In this respect, this study attempts to interpret the narrative from the perspective of ethics of care in order to dig out Lessing’s views on animals. The study mainly focuses on the subjectivity of nonhuman animals, which is indicated by their sentience and behaviours. According to Lessing, non-human animals have sensations that distinguish themselves from human beings. There is no doubt that they should be considered independent living beings though they seem to be relying on human beings for a living in this human-dominated society. Animals have feelings and emotions, and human beings should try to understand them by linking their behaviours with a human’s own experiences.