Cats from Away

by Peter Parnall

Describes the unique characteristics of nine cats who have come to a Maine barn "from somehwere else".

Genres: Childrens

30 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1989

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of drawings and descriptions of the various cats that have come to live with this author/illustrator in his barn in Maine. Some of their stories are sad but they all have a happy life afterwards being cared for by Peter.

Read on open library

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Featuring lovely pen and ink drawings, CATS FROM AWAY illustrates the life of cats before spay/neuter was widely practiced, as well as how they continue to live today in places where neuter/return has yet to be implemented.

Completely feral, semi-feral, and fully domestic cats are profiled in the author's barn, home, and farmland. Even when cats are too wild to be approached closely, the author proves himself adept at recognizing the personality and uniqueness of every feline. Some cats are rescued from sad circumstances, while others just adopt the farm as their own, much as cats' ancestors did once upon a time in human history. Many cats are born and bred at the farm, as can be expected with an unaltered colony.

There are moments of beauty in their lives, such as when an untouchable feral snuggles with and grooms a couple of shivering baby lambs. There are also images of the ugly reality of hazards faced by outdoor cats. Youngsters will be bothered by the image of a pained cat with a leghold trap clamped on his leg. The text informs us that the cat was rescued, but his leg had to be amputated. The sad fact is that these torturous devices are still very much in use, and they are still maiming and killing pets.

Another cat's profile informs us that Spitzu the Siamese was obtained for $2 from a shelter that is described as dark and smelly, and in which she awaited "a gruesome fate." While some shelters still have a long way to go, thankfully, as a whole, their animal welfare and housing standards have improved significantly from the the old "city pound." It is in fact thanks to many shelters' low-cost spay/neuter and vaccination outreach that many cats' lives have improved drastically.

Discussion topics: Pet care past vs. present, animal personalities, feral/barn cats, trapping, outdoor hazards for cats, cat rescue/adoption/shelters, farm animals, rural life

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you OpenLibrary.org for archiving these classic treasures. Parnall's art is especially suited to portraying cats, with its simple, minimal, evocative lines sparely colored. I don't know why his work isn't more well-known.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not sure why Parnall wrote this book. It's not really a story, just descriptions of the personalities of various cats that have come to live in his barn. Granted, the cats are all real characters, and the descriptions are interesting, but there's no story. I do love his illustrations, especially Burl, and the picture of Cud saddened me, because it reminded me of our cat Louie, who got his paw caught in an illegally set trap and lost his leg. It's an ok book, but not much for a readaloud.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that celebrates the arrival of strays into ones life...and how each brings a unique and special peersonality.

[Lanacelot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this simple and beautifully illustrated book.