Cats: True Tails and Life Lessons from a Purring Companion will appeal to cat lovers everywhere. It looks at the cat’s history and folklore, and there are even memories of Ms. Wallin’s former Siamese cat named Kitty. She starts by addressing the fact that cats are not perfect; in fact, they can be a little demanding and aloof, as anyone who owns one can attest. But maybe that is what makes them so adorable and lovable. They can only be tamed to a certain extent. And unlike a dog, who is constantly looking for attention and affection from its owner, a cat tends to be much more independent.
I loved that the author talked about how we communicate with cats. She is right that we develop a sense of knowing what our cat wants, and they, in turn, seem to tolerate us humans. And as she points out, the Egyptians seem to have appreciated this special bond between cats and humans longer than anyone. They were not only held in high esteem but cat carvings and sculptures were thought to have magical powers. I sometimes think of this when I look at my own cat and wonder what she would think if she knew that. I loved learning about Ms. Wallin’s experience with her cat Kitty, and I’m delighted she added photos to the book so that the reader feels more of a connection with both the author and her feline companion.
My favorite part of this book had to be the cat diary versus the dog diary. I laughed out loud when I read some of the entries, especially the one where the cat is thinking about vomiting on the floor just to annoy its human. My own cat seems to be a pro at this skill. I appreciated the chapter about folklore and, where we got some of our ideas about cats from. And I really enjoyed hearing about famous cat owners and what they thought about their cats and the names they gave them. But I do wish it had been a little bit longer. Nevertheless, this book was full of fascinating quotes and facts about cats which cat lovers will adore.
Overall, this was a fun and enjoyable read, and it would make an excellent gift for any cat lover. Of course, I picked it up because I love cats, but I can say without a doubt that even dog lovers could learn a thing or two about cats by reading this book.
