Gethers, Peter. The cat who went to Paris, New York : Fawcett, c1991.

In this memoir Peter Gethers, an author, publisher and screenwriter who used to describe himself as a self-confessed cat hater, is given a kitten (who he names Norton), by a friend, which changes his life and feelings towards the feline species forever.  This book is charming and witty and Gethers tells his story with a warm and friendly style that confirms his love and affection for his little mate Norton.  They travel everywhere together, across the country and overseas by plane, on the Manhattan subway, they eat at restaurants and go on beach walks.  With many amusing anecdotes of his trials and tribulations of being owned by a cat, this book is a great easy read for most clients.

There are two further books is this series:- firstly, ‘A cat abroad’ and then ‘The cat who’ll live forever’.

 

Wren, Christopher S. The cat who covered the world : the adventures of Henrietta and her foreign correspondent, New York : Simon & Schuster, 2001.

Author, Christopher Wren, a reporter and editor for the New York Times, writes about his life as a foreign correspondent after he is transferred to Moscow for his first assignment. When his family refuse to leave their new cat Henrietta, (who was given as a gift to his children at Christmas by a friend) and who initially wasn't wanted by the author behind, life would never be the same as their adventures around the globe begin. Henrietta's travels and her escapades in Moscow, Cairo, Beijing, Ottawa, and Johannesburg form a charming and entertaining story about a spunky and curious cat who, with her cuddly and affectionate ways won the heart of Wren with the two becoming inseparable. Henrietta became ranked among the world’s most widely travelled cats. The book is an easy read, is fast paced and has many details of the life and cultures of foreign lands, there are also a few illustrations of Henrietta.

The cat who covered the world : the adventures of Henrietta and her foreign correspondent is on the bestseller list for:- New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Booksense, Amazon.com and notachain.com.

 

Lewis, Val. Ship’s cats in war and peace, Nauticalia, G2 Entertainment, 2010.

Author Val Lewis has provided a thoroughly researched account of seagoing cats from ancient times to the present.  The book covers cats whose job is to control vermin on cargo and naval ship’s, such as Able Seaman Simon of HMS Amethyst, who was awarded the Dickin Medal (the animals’ VC) for killing vermin in the ship’s stores, to feline companions who accompany long distance sailing adventurers.  This book features the stories of 91 seagoing felines from history and legend, some who are purebred whilst others are just moggies, all of whom show great self-reliance and adaptability to life on board.

 

Finden, Susan. Casper the commuting cat : the true story of the cat who rode the bus and stole our hearts, London : Simon & Schuster, 2010.

This true story is written by Susan Finden who was the devoted owner of Casper.  Finden was baffled as to the whereabouts of her cat Casper, as he kept disappearing during the day.  As it turned out, he would regularly take the No. 3 bus on journeys around Plymouth in Devon, delighting commuters and bus drivers with his friendly nature.  Casper became a worldwide celebrity and the mascot at the bus company whose buses he rode on.  When Casper was tragically killed by a car, messages of sympathy flooded in from around the world, proving that his story had captured the hearts of many people.

Casper the commuting cat : the true story of the cat who rode the bus and stole out hearts is on the bestseller list for:- The Times (London).

 

Cooper, Gwen. Homer’s odyssey : a fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind wonder cat, New York : Delacorte Press, 2009.

This is an inspirational, funny and heart-warming book about a cat that lost both eyes soon after birth from a life threatening infection, and Gwen Cooper, the 24 year old who works in a non-profit organisation running volunteer programs, has two cats from a past relationship and is asked by her vet to adopt a handicapped four week old kitten.  Despite her far from ideal financial and accommodation circumstances, Cooper’s heart melts when she holds the tiny ball of fluff and he snuggles in and starts purring loudly.   Homer’s fearless nature and amazing personality teaches Cooper about love and acceptance and changes her into the woman she had always hoped to be.  This book with its inspiring stories of a loving, courageous cat who doesn’t let the fact he is blind get in the way of a full and happy life, together with the daily happenings of a young single woman will appeal to cat/animal lovers as well as women who can relate to Coopers situation and her changing outlook on life, acceptance and love.

Homer’s odyssey : a fearless feline tale, or how I learned about love and life with a blind wonder cat is on the bestsellers list for:- New York Times and the Northern California Independent booksellers Association.

You can follow Homer’s continuing adventures on - http://www.gwencooper.com 

 

Dosa, David. Making the rounds with Oscar : the inspirational story of a doctor, his patients and a very special cat, London : Headline, 2011.

This book is written by David Dosa,  a geriatrician at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Providence, Rhode Island. After Dosa wrote an essay about Oscar’s special ability to predict when a patient was about to die, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2007, the story became a global one and this fascinating book is about his work and about Oscar.  Oscar was adopted by the centre as a stray kitten in 2005 and the dementia unit became his home.  Oscar is usually aloof, like many cats and does not actively seek the companionship of humans, but when a patient is near death he will jump onto their bed at least two to four hours beforehand, snuggle up to them and purr contentedly as if giving them a sense of comfort until they pass away.  He then stays with them until the undertaker takes them away and watches them go down the corridor, as if bidding them farewell. The book is a fascinating read and includes interviews with various people who have had firsthand experiences with Oscar and they talk about their thoughts and the feelings that they and others have about Oscar.

Making the rounds with Oscar : the inspirational story of a doctor, his patients and a very special cat is on the bestseller list for:- Barnes & Noble, New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Booksense and Amazon.com.

Bowen, James. A street cat named Bob, London : Hodder, 2012.

 

James Bowen has written a No. 1 bestselling book about his life as a street musician and recovering heroin addict and the street cat who he named Bob that helped turn his life around and brought his family back together after many years of  hopelessness and loneliness.   When he found an injured ginger cat in the hallway of his apartment block, James couldn’t resist helping him despite the fact that he was living hand to mouth on the streets of London, barely making enough money to feed himself. After a visit  to the local RSPCA vet, he managed to slowly nurse Bob back to health.  When Bob was fit enough he started following James to Covent Garden where he played his guitar to raise money for themselves, and despite his best efforts to stop him, Bob won in the end.  This book highlights the daily struggles of homeless people, and shows how the companionship and close bond that some pets offer can help them turn their lives around by giving them a sense of purpose and responsibility.  This book is a heart-warming, fast paced easy read.

 A street cat named Bob was nominated for the Galaxy National Book Award in 2012, and in on the Bestseller list  for:- The Times (London).

 

O’Connor, Dennis. Paw tracks in the moonlight, London : Constable & Robinson, 2009.

This is a wonderful true story told by Dennis O’Connor about the three week old kitten he rescued in a snow storm who he names Toby Jug, and the unusually strong bond that develops between them.  O’Connor and Toby Jug share many adventures together, but it is when they go on a camping trip on horseback that a truly beautiful world opens up for them.  O’Connor writes a detailed story, with wonderful visual descriptions that paint a vivid picture of the surrounding Northumberland countryside as well as lovely illustrations that really take the reader on the journey with them.  This book puts new light on the argument that dogs are the only pets that form a strong bond with their human companions, and shows just how devoted some cats are to their owners.
 

Find some further stories by Dennis O'Connor at:-

 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323024/Denis-Oconnors-Paw-Tracks-At-Owl-Cottage-Carlos-cat-terrorised-dogs.html

Alexander, Caroline. Mrs Chippy’s last expedition, London : Bloomsbury, 1997.

Caroline Alexander, a talented author praised for her accuracy and detailed accounts of historical events, has written the story of Shackleton’s expedition on board the Endurance from London to Antarctica in 1914. Alexander has told the story through the eyes of Mrs Chippy, the ship’s tabby cat.  He was a tough tomcat, and he belonged to Henry McNeish, the ship's carpenter. Once on board, the cat followed McNeish around like an overly possessive wife, and that's how he was given the name Mrs Chippy, even though he was a tomcat. Mrs Chippy was intelligent,  good natured and affectionate, as well as a first-rate mouser and ratcatcher. Based on true accounts from the ship’s crew, this is a medium paced light hearted tale of the humorous, clever and mischievous antics of a much loved ships cat, and would be suitable for both adults and children.      

Harrison, Frederick. Travelling cat : a journey round Britain with Pugwash, London : Grafton,1989.

When Frederick Harrison sets out to travel around Britain for several months in a campervan, he decides to take a feline companion with him.  Having numerous cats hanging around his front door he selects one of them to keep him company on his trip.  Pugwash, the chosen one, was the most laid-back cat in town.  ‘A cat of rare qualities, he was the user-friendly, underachiever who actually sniffed flowers and enjoyed leaning against walls’ (Cortezhill, 2007).  Harrison tells of their adventures across the country with wit, warmth and a sense of the ridiculous, recalling the eccentricities of the locals that he and Pugwash encountered along the way, with entertaining photographs backing up some of the diverse locations they covered.  This book is immensely funny and has become a favourite amongst its readers.

There is a second book written by Harrison called – Travelling cat in Ireland, with further adventures of journeying with Pugwash.

Morgan, Ashley. Wonder Cats : true stories of extraordinary felines, West Sussex, England : Summersdale, c2010.

This book written by Ashley Morgan, tells a series of true stories about cats who are unexpected heroes and protectors from harm, cats who save people and animals, cats who care for people and who are unlikely friends, to medical wonders, ultimate survivors and some of their incredible journeys. A heart-warming book that shows that our feline friends are full of surprises and unusual talents and is an easy read with many short stories.

Amory, Cleveland. The cat who came for Christmas, London : Transworld, 2011.

Author Cleveland Amory, a distinguished American journalist, satirist and novelist, who also founded The Fund for Animals in 1967, has written this book about a starving, injured white stray cat which he rescued from an ally way in New York on Christmas Eve.  It covers the first year of their lives together, as Amory, who prefers dogs over cats comes to terms with the fact that this large white cat who he names Polar Bear has captured his heart and changes his life forever. This is a heart-warming tale of feline and human nature which is beautifully written and often hilarious as this stubborn, uncompromising, single-minded cat and Amory share many adventures together and Amory learns what it is like to be owned by a cat.

Cleveland died aged 81 in 1998, and was buried next to his beloved cat, Polar Bear.

Coombs, Rosie. Paddy boy : the adventures of a northern farm cat, New York : Raider Publishing, 2011.

This is the story of Rosie and a much wanted ginger kitten who she named Paddy Boy. It looks at the special relationships that can develop between humans and animals, and it takes you through his early months as a kitten on a farm and the muddles he manages to get into, through to his adult years, with heart-warming, funny and sometimes unbelievable tales of happenings on a northern farm. This book is an easy read that is suitable for both adults and children.

Flinders, Matthew. A biographical tribute to the memory of Trim, Pymble, N.S.W. : Angus & Robertson, 1997.

This little book was written by Matthew Flinders during his imprisonment and parole period on the island of Mauritius. It was during this time that Trim went AWOL, never to be seen again. The book is a tribute to the brave little cat who accompanied Flinders from London to Botany Bay and around Australia, and during this time Trim learnt to swim, catch a rope and rule over the dogs on board with an iron paw. Trim was also intently interested in watching the officers at their navigation, leading Flinders to believe that he was interested in astronomy. This book is an easy read and would be suitable for both adults and children.

 

Cheung, Teresa. Psychic Cats, London : Penguin, 2010.

Teresa Cheung is a cat loving spiritualist, and in this book she explores the true stories of some remarkable cats who it is said have a sixth sense and are divine messengers of comfort.  Containing a collection of unexplained and heart-warming true stories this book is an easy read and would be of interest to those readers who are interested in the comforting and spiritual qualities that our feline companions bring into our lives.

 

Brown, Helen. Cleo : how a small black cat helped heal a family, Crows Nest, Sydney : Arena, 2010.

Helen Brown, was a full time feature writer for the Sunday Star Times in Auckland, New Zealand and is a best-selling author.  Brown has written this book based on her experiences of life after terrible tragedy and living with an uppity little kitten called Cleo. This book deals with the complex emotions of grief and how some animals, in particular Cleo can help a family and bring them a sense of hope.  Cleo takes on the healing of the family and distracts them from grieving through her antics and her ability to make them laugh and love again.  This book is rich in wisdom, wit, heart, and healing, a story of a cat with an extraordinary gift for knowing just where she was needed most and will not only appeal to the fans of animal biographies  but also to general biography readers.

There is a second book written by Helen Brown called ‘After Cleo : came Jonah’, which follows on after her first book ‘Cleo’. Also a wonderful read.

Cleo : how a small black cat helped heal a family is on the bestseller list for:- The Times (London) and the New York Times, and is recommended by Library Journal.

 

Hacking, Heather. Historical cats : great cats who have shaped history, London : Hodder, 2003.

 

Author Heather Hacking started to wonder if cats were ruling the world when one night she realised that she was peeling grapes and switching on the electric blanket for her cats.  This book is a light hearted and humorous look at feline domination and the great cats who shaped history. This is an easy read and a witty look at history through cats' eyes, with beautiful colour illustrations and funny black and white cartoons, it will appeal to cat lovers both young and old.

Romp, Julia. The cat who came back for Christmas : how a cat brought a family the gift of love, New York : Penguin, 2012.

 

This book written by single mother Julia Romp, shares her true story about living with her son George, an autistic child who was not diagnosed until he was ten years old.  It wasn’t until a stray black and white cat who they name Ben, comes into their lives that George engages with the cat and his world opens up for the first time and Julia is finally able to reach her son. After three years of progress and many happy times, Ben runs away whilst Julia and George take a rare holiday, and George regresses back into himself. Determined to find their lost cat, she sets out on a mission to get him back, and finally the news comes through of his whereabouts just four days before Christmas, and the family is reunited once more. This is a touching story of a mothers love and devotion to her son and the little cat who formed a close attachment to him. 

 

Myron, Vicki. Dewey : the small-town library cat who touched the world, London : Hodder, 2009.

Vicki Myron, who was the head librarian at Spencer Library,  found a tiny, bedraggled kitten almost frozen to death in the night drop box of the library on one of the coldest mornings of the year.  The townspeople of Spencer named the little kitten Dewey, as he lived at the library, and as he grew into a handsome ginger cat he became a beacon of hope for a small  town suffering from the farm crisis of the 1980s. Dewey’s mischievous nature and funny antics kept the library patrons amused and his sixth sense about people who were in need lead to many loving friendships, and as his fame grew people from all over the world fell in love with him. This book is an easy read to be enjoyed by all ages, cat lovers or just animal lovers who believe that one small special bundle of fur can change the quality of life for many people.

Dewey : the small-town library cat who touched the world is on the bestseller list for:- Globe and Mail, Northern California Independent Booksellers Association, New York Times, Barnes & Noble, San Francisco Chronicle, Publishers Weekly, Washington Post, Booksense and Amazon.com.
 

 

Steiger, Brad and Hansen Steiger, Sherry . Cat miracles : inspirational true stories of remarkable felines, New York : F+W Media, 2009.

Bestselling authors Brad and Sherry Steiger, have put together an interesting and uplifting book about amazing cats that have performed miraculous deeds of courage, survival and heroism, from saving a diabetic from almost certain death to protecting a child from a rattlesnake.  This book is a quick easy read and will appeal to readers who love animals, particularly cats, and readers who are interested in the mysterious abilities that animals have to overcome adversity and foretell danger.