Top 5 Books To Read About Cats

December 3, 2017

This time of year is a great time to snuggle up with your favourite feline and read a book. With the holidays right around the corner, you might be taking some time off or maybe you need a few gift ideas for the cat lovers on your shopping list. We put together a list of best cat fiction to help you decide.

Top Cat Mystery Books

There’s something mysterious about cats, so perhaps it’s no surprise they feature in so many mystery series helping people solve crimes:

• The Cat Who Mystery Series by Lilian Jackson Braun features crime reporter Jim Qwilleran and his Siamese cats, Kao K'o-Kung and Yum Yum solving crimes together.
• Joe Grey Cat Mystery Series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy unfolds the stories of furry cat sleuth Joe Grey, working closely with the Cat P.D.
• Alison Nestleton Mystery Series by Lydia Adamson tell the stories of cat sitter Alison who has a Miss Marple way of happening upon murder and solving crime.
• Mrs. Murphy Mysteries by Rita Mae Brown tell the stories of postmistress Mary Minor "Harry" Haristeen and her cat Mrs. Murphy always on the brink of some murder mystery. 

Fantasy Cat Stories

Fantasy and mystery surround the fictional cat in a lot of feline stories, it seems. Heroic cats is the theme most played out in feline fantasy and sci-fi fiction, which tell us a bit about how we view our own cats. Their sense of mystery is boundless and makes our imaginations run wild. In these adventurous stories, the cats travel to strange lands to face down their adversaries. The cat always saves the day!

Top Fantasy and Sci-Fi Cat Stories

• Warriors Series by Erin Hunter takes you on the adventures of the four warrior clans and the wild cats existing in this world.
• CatFantastic Books by Andre Norton, a master of the fantasy and sci-fi genre, these books take you on a magical journey where cats have extraordinary powers and wonderful adventures. You can find many titles by this author on cats and many others.
• Tailchaser’s Song by Tad Williams tells the story of Fritti Tailchaser, a courageous tom cat in a world of whiskery heroes and villains, of feline gods and strange, furless creatures called M'an.
• Pet Sematary by Stephen King – who can forget that haunting cat back from the dead in this King classic?

Classic Fictional Felines

We can’t talk about cats in fiction without mentioning some of the oldies but goodies:

• Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats by T.S. Eliot’s is a wonderful collection of poems depicting a dizzying array of kitty characters.
• The Fur Person by May Sarton tells the charming story of the cat Tom Jones, an independent feline who finally comes to rest in the warm home of the author.
• The Cat Inside by William S. Burroughs is a moving and witty discourse on the cats the author befriended in the course of his lifetime. It also reveals a deeper understanding of our long and mysterious relationship with cats.

The Cat’s Eye

Books from a cat’s perspective are always interesting to read. To see the commentary of how we think we look in the eyes of a cat can be revealing and humorous all at the same time. 

• I Am a Cat by Soseki Natsume is a first person narrative told by a cat observing the bustling world of a great metropolis in Japan.
• The Dalai Lama’s Cat by David Michie tells the story of a cat rescued by some buddhist monks and the lessons he learns from the great master himself.
• The Autobiography of Foudini M. Cat by Susan Fromberg Schaeffer tells the story of a kitten left to survive on his own.

Rescue Cat Stories

Word on the street is that rescue cat stories are flying off the shelves. These inspirational stories warm our hearts and remind us why we love these furry, four-legged creatures so much. Here’s our top picks:

• A Street Cat Named Bob by James Bowen follows the adventures of a street cat nursed back to health by a man down on his luck. It’s a heart-warming, comic, and occasionally dangerous story that will make you feel good. Watch out for the upcoming movie too!
• Timba Comes Home by Sheila Jeffries is about a black kitten abandoned in a ditch and rescued by a young boy. As their relationship deepens, you see the transformative power pets can have on our lives.
• Molly and the Cat Cafe by Melissa Daley is the story of one homeless cat and her determination to find a better life.

We hope this definitive reading list has helped you decide which cat book you’re going to curl up with this winter. They also make great gifts, so share the warmth!

by Natalie Secretan
PuppyDogCapers.com

Photo credit by: Güldem Üstün - Turkey (Edirne) Tired of reading books!!