Cats and Their Women

I received this book as a gift and really enjoyed most of the stories and accompanying photographs, especially those involving rescued cats. However, there are two anecdotes/photos that will make cat lovers cringe, especially rescuers. One is a picture of a child with a bag over her head grasping a Siamese cat under her front legs with her lower body completely unsupported and dangling. The cat also has a bag over her head! The other is a saccharine sweet Hallmark-card-worthy photo of a curly haired little girl sitting under a Christimas tree with a fluffy kitten in her lap. The authors were evidently so taken with the photo that they failed to notice that the accompanying text is pretty grim: The kitten pictured was never spayed and had several litters. Eventually, the neglected "pet" is found dead (and pregnant) in the road by the family. But that's OK because cats are easily replaced: The story concludes, "And now we have a cat named Frisky." How sad! The authors originally wrote about women and dogs and I honestly cannot imagine them including a comparable story about a dog, but people do not value cats in the same way. Overall, an enjoyable book, but I was disappointed by the inclusion of the two stories cited above. Surely there were better submissions that could have been used.

If you love cats, this is an absolute MUST read. It is a heartwarming book. Each two-page spread features a black and white photograph of cat along with the woman they've adopted, and a short text on some aspect of their relationship. In a matter of a few pages it will take you from laughter to tears and back again. There is also a book "Dogs and their women" which is equally excellent. I actually keep and extra copy of these two on hand as quick presents for animal lovers. They are that good.