Cats! Long before they took over my apartment and the Internet, cats were a ubiquitous presence in our culture. Go to any bookstore and odds are you’ll find an entire selection devoted to our furry, feline, friends. For your reading pleasure, I’ve compiled a list.
Wish You Were Here (1990) Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown. Harry is the overeducated postmistress in small town Virginia living with a pet cat, Mrs. Murphy, and corgi, Tucker. One day she notices a strange postcard with a grave marker saying “Wish You Were Here.” The recipient turns up dead and Harry realizes it was sent by the killer. This is the first of the famous “Mrs. Murphy” mystery novels, that Rita Mae Brown has co-written with her kitty companion Sneaky Pie, and that are now cherished by mystery lovers and cat lovers alike.
Algonquin Cat (1995) By Val Schaffer. The beautiful cat Hamlet resides at the famous Algonquin Hotel in New York City living a life of luxury. Naturally he befriends the hotel’s many guests and has a chance to observe all the goings on-including some secrets. To that end Hamlet starts taking an active role in sorting out the troubles of the various befuddled humans he meets-including solving an old mystery. An utterly charming tale, with beautiful illustrations by Hillary Knight who wrote the famed Eloise books.
Dewey: A Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World (2008) Written by Vicki Myron and Brett Witter. This best-selling non fiction book tells the life story of Dewey a kitten found abandoned in the library drop bin one cold night by librarian Vicky Myron. Dewey later became not only the official library cat, but an internationally known celebrity as well until his death. Myron also discusses the role libraries play in a community and her own personal struggles as a single mother and with illness.
Making Rounds With Oscar: The Extraordinary Gift of an Ordinary Cat (2010) By David Dosa. The true story of how Oscar a therapy cat living in a nursing home has the uncanny ability to predict when patients will pass away; and chooses to spend his final hours with them. David Dosa originally wrote an article about Oscar for the New England Journal of Medicine which he later expanded into a book. Besides its four footed star character, Making Rounds is also a thoughtful and poignant book on aging, illness, mortality, and saying goodbye at the end.
How to Tell If Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You (2012) By Matthew Inman. If your cat is kneading you, it’s not a sign of affection but rather because it’s checking your internal organs for weaknesses. Being presented with a dead animal isn’t a gift – it’s a warning. All this and more can be found in Inman’s hysterically funny compendium of comics, facts, and instructional guides on dealing with the feline menace. His most popular cat comics including “How to Pet a Kitty” and “The Bobcats,” fifteen new and never before seen cat themed comics, and a pull-out poster are all collected in this hilarious collection by New York Times best-selling author Matthew Inman otherwise known as TheOatmeal.com.
Top photo from Bigstock
Winnie’s book, The Dog-Walking Diaries – A Year in the Life of an Autistic Dog-Walker, can be bought for the dog lover in your life by clicking here to purchase on Amazon.
