Having a motherly instinct means to feel some form of having feelings within oneself that make us feel or care about others in a motherly way. This was expressed by Ginny when she would find out cats who are lost, sick, alone, or handicapped. Ginny's feeling of having to comfort and care for such cats makes her a motherly figure.
A mothering instinct is when someone has an innate knowledge or caregiving behaviors that are an automatic part of being a mother. In other words, it is when someone has the emotions and caregiving nature of a mother.
- In the given passage, Ginny the dog is shown to show such motherly instinct, especially towards cats, strays, and the sick, as well as those that need love and attention.
- The narrator mentions several instances where Ginny showed her motherly instinct, like when she would find cats in distress or would be immediately attracted to blind or deaf cats among many other cats.
- Her instant attraction to such cats, her need to help them and care for them, or her acts of making her owner know who or where such cats are shows Ginny has a motherly instinct in her.
When Ginny expressed her desire (through her actions) to her owner about a certain cat, or when she would sit near a cat that needs help, she's showing evidence of a mothering instinct. And through her, she was able to ensure her owner saved and helped such cats in distress.