Old Cat

by Barbara Libby

A beautifully illustrated, moving tale of a pet's place in family life is told from the point of view of the master's pet cat and is illustrated in color throughout.

Genres: Animals, Childrens, Picture Books

32 pages, Hardcover

First published September 6, 1993

Reviews

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my mother because I have a cantankerous 13-year-old calico cat named Claudie that is absolutely the animal love of my life. I've had her since she was a 3-week-old kitten. I think my mom got this for me to help me cope with her aging. It's a wonderful, beautiful book and I love it, but it didn't help me cope with Claudie's aging. It made me sob like a baby. I think it's better to read this if your cats are young.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it as a poem. Having loved some old cats myself, it was a sad but comforting reminder of my departed friends. Reflections of the beauty of their lives.

[Amanda Himes · Rating 3 out of 5]

My parents were given this book when I was in high school. I've probably read it half a dozen times, and each time I cry (and I am not a crier). Really a moving story, for anyone whose beloved pet has passed on.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations accompany this tale of a beloved family member.

[LInda L · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a cat lover, be prepared to weep. Beautifully written and illustrated.

[Alicia Catlos · Rating 5 out of 5]

We outlive them. It is inevitable that we watch our cats grow old and die. This book just...helps.

[Kitty Galore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so it is a children's book, sort of. The wording was not directed toward a child unless that child had a great vocabulary. Nevertheless, I loved this book; it was short enough that I read it several times. In fact I copied several passages out of it because they were poetic and meaningful and having had lots of felines in my life, described perfectly the behavior of a cat that has grown older, but is still beloved by his family. It also made me remember my own cats as they aged and in this, it created a nostalgia that, while not making me cry, made me very sad. So I loved the book. It brought forth memories and the emotions that accompany those memories. It was real life brought forth in the printed word and beautiful, evocative illustrations.