My Cat Spit McGee

by Willie Morris

With endearing humor and unabashed compassion, Willie Morris--a self-declared dog man and author of the classic paean to canine kind, My Dog Skip--reveals the irresistible story of his unlikely friendship with a cat. Forced to confront a lifetime of kitty-phobia when he marries a cat woman, Willie discovers that Spit McGee, a feisty kitten with one blue and one gold eye, is nothing like the foul felines that lurk in his nightmares. For when Spit is just three weeks old he nearly dies, but is saved by Willie with a little help from Clinic Cat, which provides a blood transfusion. Spit is tied to Willie thereafter, and Willie grows devoted to a companion who won't fetch a stick, but whose wily charm and occasional crankiness conceal a fount of affection, loyalty, and a "rare and incredible intelligence." My Cat Spit McGee is one of the finest books ever written about a cat, and a moving and entertaining tribute to an enduring friendship.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Cats, Memoir, Biography, Biography Memoir, Southern

141 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 12, 2009

About the author

William Weaks "Willie" Morris (November 29, 1934 — August 2, 1999), was an American writer and editor born in Jackson, Mississippi, though his family later moved to Yazoo City, Mississippi, which he immortalized in his works of prose. Morris' trademark was his lyrical prose style and reflections on the American South, particularly the Mississippi Delta. In 1967 he became the youngest editor of Harper's Magazine. He wrote several works of fiction and non-fiction, including his seminal book North Toward Home, as well as My Dog Skip.

Reviews

[Jessaka · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute story.

Spit McGee, the author’s cat, was the only kitten in the litter to survive. Spit almost died as well, but a quick trip to the vet saved his life. That poor little kitten. I don’t imagine that he liked having an IV placed in him, but he was too weak to fight with the vet. Yet, he was saved, and tha tis a good thing.

The author, liking dogs better, but owning 7 cats, tried to teach Spit McGee to retrieve sticks, but Spit thought that he was rather stupid for thinking that he would enjoy such a dumb sport. So,Spit sat and stared at him. . This autor also tried teaching him other tricks, but Spit was too smart for that. I never thought to try to teach a cat tricks, well, yes, as a kid I had, but I learned that they were just not interested. All they want to do is eat, sleep, and chase birds or just run and hide when things get scary for them, like a car pulling into the driveway or a dog coming into the yard. Spit McGee was no different as cats go.

My own cat loves to sleep near me when I am on my computer and then walks across its keyboard making my writing look like this: [‘p0iu7t5e3q12.

Now if this story ends with Spit dying, I will never read another of his dog/cat stories even though I love animal stories. Just that I don’t feel like crying as I normally do when reading these types of books. I have shed enough tears in my life over losing my own animals. Still, it is so tempting to read a story about an animal. I think I would cry even if someone wrote about their pet turtle and then ended it with its getting killed by a car running over it or that a hawk grabbed Toby the Turtle, flew with hi into the sky and at about 400 feet, dropped him on a boulder to crack its shell.

I must go back to my story and see what else Spit is doing that the author thinks is so adorable. Well, Spit watches TV with him but there is no story here. I had a friend whose cat used to wach Animal Kingdom and get up only during the commercials. Then they traded their black and white TV in for a color TV and their cat sat through even the commercials. My cat Taffy used to like to watch a video on my computer of cats with napnip. She loved it all during her youth, but I have not seen that video in years. I haven’t looked.

Then the author gets his cat a long leash and takes him around to see his childhood haunts, which story is more for us than for Spit.

By the time I am finished with the book I am glad to see that “Spit is still alive. And maybe someday I will read the authors book about his pet dog, maybe his dog will make for a more exciting story.

Oh, I forgot. My cat Taffy hates the narrator on my computer and on kindle. I first learned this when she began crying everytime I turned eith on. Thinking something was wrong with her, I turned the kindle off. She quit crying. I turned it on again. Crying. I ignored her, and she jumped on the end table next to the couch where I was sitting, and howled. Now I used earphones.

[James · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this book very much. The reader is lead to believe that we're going to learn about how a avowed "dog man" learns to love a cat over time, but there's no transition whatsoever. He just goes from disliking cats because they aren't dogs, to loving cats. Although I will admit that the circumstance of his first experience with the title character is quite touching. But then, he goes quite rapidly to the other extreme, to having multiple cats, 9 altogether, as a result of never getting any of them spayed or neutered.

The book is just not very well-written. He tries to write in a very matter-of-fact way, but his choices of words and references are quite pretentious, choosing little-used, archaic adjectives and nouns, when plain and simple ones would have worked much better. He also vacillates in references to his wife, usually calling her "The Cat Woman" and only rarely by her name Joanne or by "my wife." What's more his obsession with naming all of his cats for deceased relatives, complete with first and last names, which he almost always uses to reference them, is a bit much.

Besides, encouraging breeding, he lets them roam free outside, in spite of the fact that sometimes they disappear for days on end, and Spit is even injured at one point. What's more, he seems to have not a clue with how the other cats will take to newcomers. As a result, some of the his cats just disappear because they are not getting the love they once got, since there's so less of it go around with 9 cats in the household. He claims to love these cats, but has little regard for what his actions do to these animals emotionally. Even in his reminiscences about his childhood dog, Skip, he relates that Skip also was allowed to roam about outside unleashed and he also disappeared for days on end. Has this man learned nothing about responsible pet-ownership? He also mentions that he wishes Spit could have been a father. As far as I know, male cats have nothing to do with their offspring after they've mated, except maybe to harm or kill them in some cases. And how does he know Spit didn't impregnate a female cat somewhere out there? It's not like Spit would have shown any evidence of it. Morris is forever giving human emotions and attributes to his cat, but any experienced cat lover knows that in spite of all the pleasure they provide us, cats are not really thinking much about what's on your mind. Chapter 10, the second to last chapter in which he dragged this poor cat on a leash all over the state of Mississippi to share his old haunts with the animal, is just so self-indulgent, maudlin and seemed endless, although it was only 26 pages. It was a chore to finish this book and had it not been such a short one of 141 pages, I probably wouldn't have bothered.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a dog lover/ cat hater man turned into cat adorer via marriage to the lovely cat woman as told by wordsmith Willie Morris. Meet Spit McGee the kitty who changed WM s mind. Thus, a tale of naive admiration and love is wrought by the charm of a helpless white kitten with one gold eye and one blue. This book is an ode to love ,of cats and a cat woman.

[Jacqui Schischka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always find it bittersweet to read tales of animals. Whilst I want to read about their lives (and the humans they affect) I find they are often written as obituaries/tributes to lost loved ones and as someone who is still grieving the loss of my cat, Billy, I find them difficult to read.

So, before reading this book I scanned the ending to find that Spit was very much still alive. Unfortunately, just after I started reading however, I did some research (on Google) and discovered that this book was published 3 months after Willie Morris (author) died suddenly from a heart attack. I also discovered that Spit McGee himself also passed away a few years later in 2004 from a dog attack. So, it was with a heavy heart that I continued reading the book.

Despite my heavy heart, I enjoyed this book a lot.

It is a very sweet tale of a reformed dog lover who over time becomes a aurilophile and begins to understand and appreciate the exceptional wonder that is a cat. At it's heart it is a love story as Morris falls in love with JoAnne Prichard and after marrying her meets and falls in love with Spit McGee. It was interesting to read this story from a man's perspective who previously vehemently detested cats. But, after living a lonely life for some time both JoAnne and Spit brought lots of love into Morris' life and effectively lightened his heart.

RIP to both Willie Morris and Spit McGee - I know you are both up there together enjoying each other's company - along with Skip and Pete.

[Sharon Huether · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Cat Spit McGee..By Willie Morris... Reading this book brought good memories of my cat Smokey. The author really was a "Dog man" untill he met the "Cat Woman", who became his wife. He told the history of cats and about his favorite cat Spit McGee. The cats in his home at one time there were seven. But later they had just four, some of the others found permanent homes. Cats bring comfort and love to family members. They bring us laughter just watching them play. They each have their own personalities. It was a very well written book.

[Angela Jr. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

My Cat Spit McGee. Willie Morris is also the author of My Dog Skip. I believe I saw the movie for that once, but I really have no memory what happens in it.

The first quarter of the book is about Skip, his other dog Pete and just generally about how much he used to hate cats. I don’t really have much to say about it - I picked it up because I needed a short, easy read for a boring day at work and it served its purpose. Kind of enjoyable, but nothing extraordinary and probably not something I’m going to reread again.

I’m a sucker for everything that has to do with pets. I don’t even know how many times I cried while reading this book. Not a good idea when you’re at work, but thank god it was a very slow day ;)

[Alaine · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love books, and I love cats. But this was so dry and boring that I couldn't get through it. If you can make me not give a crap about what happens to your stupid cat, that's bad. Really bad.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love animals, so (unsurprisingly) I like to read about them too. My Cat Spit McGee is not just the story of how a confirmed dog lover (Willie Morris, who also wrote My Dog Skip) comes to adore and appreciate cats, and one cat in particular. It's also a story about how love can transform us, whether we want it to or not, even if we don't think we are up to the task of loving anyone or anything again. What a great little book.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit that I was surprised that the author spent at least 25% of this book going on about how much he hates cats. By the way, I haven't read My Dog Skip, but I did see the movie which I liked.

[Sophie Kaufman · Rating 2 out of 5]

If only this author wasn't so pretentious.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me and Olive U (my cat) enjoyed Spit McGee.

[Jo Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a lovely, feel good book about a dog loving cat hater who is reformed when he is introduced to an all white kitten one Christmas he spends with his fiancé.
Willie Morris is the author of My Dog Skip, so if this is the only book you've ever read by him, or saw the movie, you know he is a wonderfully talented writer.
I liked the book. I love cats, having lived with them since I was a baby in my crib. Dogs are ok, and I don't hate them but I'm of the opinion that why have a dog when you can have two cats.
I couldn't entirely drink Mr. Morris's Kool Aid though, about the perfection of his cats. He left out the reality of having a cat (notice I didn't say "owning" since we cat people know you don't own a cat, you work for one.)
Morris wrote or was working on this book in the 90s. It bothered me that he didn't bother to have his cats spayed or neutered, and felt Spit should have at least one chance to be a father before getting snipped. After almost losing Spit to bigger, tougher cats looking to mate, he got Spit fixed. This backward thinking irritated me.
Also, having cats, we all know they puke, scratch the furniture, spray, piss and break stuff. Apparently Morris's cats were too perfect for any of this. I'm not being mean but I just wish he had presented having cats in a more honest, realistic light.
DO read the book, but if this is the only book you read before you go out and get a cat, be prepared for some unwanted surprises.

[H. Anne Stoj · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I thought that the book was going to be more about the cat rather than Morris getting over the age old dogs vs. cats as to which are better and whatnot. When he did write about Spit it was enjoyable, but there was a lot about the past and his previous dogs. (Really, I would've read My Dog Skip if I'd wanted to know everything about Skip, particularly how that book ends, so thank you for putting that in this book--who's wonky idea was that, I wonder?) Parts were redundant, but I honestly think it had to do with language. There's a place for being verbose and this didn't seem like one of them. I'm not recalling if James Harriott was particularly lush in his language but from what I'm sketchily remembering, it's a no. (But then maybe it's the American vs. English, vet vs. writer, I have no idea.) And so much name dropping. Really, I would've rather followed Morris along in watching Spit and the other cats and just been stuck in their house than knowing that he spoke with this or that well known figure.

He does, though, touch very nicely on the amazing bond that people share with their pets, whether it's a cat or a dog. It's just a shame he didn't spend as much time on that.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books about animals. Willie Morris wrote a book years ago called "My Dog Skip" an enjoyable book and a pretty good movie. For year Willie Morris was a devout dog lover. he adored his childhood dog Skip and enjoyed several other dogs in his life. He never thought he would be a cat person. he even thought he disliked cats. when he started dating his soon to be second wife and devoted cat lover. he came in contact with a stray kitten almost starved to death his girlfriend found. she was a female cat he reluctantly took in to please his soon to be wife he nicknamed "cat woman"the kitten was very soon pregnant and gave birth to four kittens three died one lived. the cat would be named "Spit McGee" a white cat with one brown eye and one blue one. he was quite a unique cat that Willie soon learned to love. along with his mother they named "rivers" in a few years they had few cats that his wife "cat woman" rescued. mr. devout dog lover learned to love cats as well thanks to one "spit McGee" this book was published after Willie Morris died. a nice read. if you love cats you may like this devoted book to cats. an easy read that children can read.

[Nancy Groves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a lifelong cat lover, so of course I'd gravitate to a book about felines. The author was a confirmed cat hater until middle age, when he married "The Cat Woman" and, to his surprise, came to appreciate and then love the cats that entered his life along with her. I enjoyed his tale of conversion, savoring how he discovered the many cat traits I know so well, and also his years of watching them taught him that (like people) cats aren't all alike, that they have their quirks and individual charms. My own husband was not a cat lover (but certainly not a cat hater like Morris) when we met 30 years ago, and I wouldn't say he is now, but like the author, he has come a long ways in his attitude toward felines. Seeing some small echoes of his "transformation" in the author's story was another rewarding aspect of the book.

[Rae-Nani · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was invited to attend book club with a friend. I couldn't believe it when I was told this was the book selected. I'm not really a cat lover. To be quite honest, I'm not really an animal person and I usually try to avoid all books and movies about animals. I was pleasantly surprised when I ended up actually enjoying this book. It was amusing, well written and quite touching. While reading it I found myself actually considering getting a cat someday. I would never have chosen to read this book, but I'm glad that I did. I have a new perspective on cats and realize now that maybe part of the reason I've never liked them was because I didn't understand their feline ways. If you're not an animal person, I'd say give it a try. You might like it.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

You're not going to be knocked over by anything in this book. You probably won't have any life-changing epiphanies, either. And I think that's how the author meant it; as it chronicles his acceptance of, joy in, and relative understanding of the nature of cats, you find the same kind of simple, low-impact understanding of the relationship he has with Spit. It's not, by any means, the same relationship other owners have with their cats, but I think that with each new cat, each human must go through the same type of learning process to come to their own end relationship.
And it's because of that universal process that I enjoyed the book (as a life-long cat lover) and that I think it would help non-cat lovers understand why we may seem a little crazy. :)

[Eliza · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the library because the cat on the front, the subject of the book, looks like Optimus. I honestly didn't really enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. Morris' musing on cats are somewhat unfulfilling and, quite frankly, a little strange. Or perhaps he and his cat were really just more complicated and sophisticated than Geoffrey and me (typed as Geoffrey gets his head stuck in my water glass. again.).

Or possibly the Pet Tribute genre really does gain something from the catharsis of the animal dying at the end of the book. Web research showed me the kitty outlived his owner by at least a couple years -- http://www.davidraemorris.com/spit.html

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

About a man who, initially a dog lover, comes to love cats as a result of marrying a cat woman. His surprise at how cats behave is very like the reaction most dog-lovers have(though i have no idea why anyone would name a cat Spit McGee) This cat is totally ignoring me? This cat insist on lying on the papers I'm trying to work on? This cat is playing with my pen when I'm try to write?? This cat just disappears for days and comes back like nothing happened? My cat got knocked up? the Jezebel!

Really touching book. Staying up all night when S.M. was sick and eventually passed away. A book for cat (and dog lovers) alike.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are cat people, and there are dog people. And there is Willie Morris. Morris, the author of My Dog Skip, was a self-proclaimed dog person until he met his fiancée. His fiancée was a cat person. In fact, he refers to her as Cat Woman in this memoir of a man and his feline.

Anyway, the Cat Woman introduces Morris to cats, and he is never the same after that. Morris saves the life of Spit McGee when the kitten is born, and a lifelong friendship is born from the experience. From Spit, Morris learns that cats are smart and independent and just as loving as his dog, Skip.

A quick, thin memoir of a Southern gentleman and his newfound love of felines. Delightful.

[Lesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a light read that wasn't depressing, and this one fit the bill. It's a charming story of how a dog man came to learn to love his cat Spit McGee, and the biggest plus is that both of them are still alive at the end of the book! Unknown to me, Willie Morris was a well-known and well-regarded author/editor who chronicled much of the middle of the 20th century in memoirs, essays and non-fiction books.
Fun book about the author who thinks he is a dog man and hates cats until he marries a cat lover. They eventually end up with several cats, but Spit McGee is his closest companion. Lots of crazy antics. Loved it.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book! As a cat-lover (read: unashamed cat lady), I thoroughly enjoyed the history of Willie Morris the dog man and how he came to love his cat Spit McGee. It's beautifully written--the language flows, Morris's voice echoes through the text, and it's full of poetic imagery--heartwarming, inspiring, and absolutely endearing. As with many animal stories, this one delves inevitably into the bond between a person and their pet, a bond that is not easily described. What makes this book stand out from the other animal-centered books that I have read is that it did not make me cry! So kudos, Willie Morris, this book was everything my cat-loving soul wanted it to be.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first part is full of pro-dog propaganda. Mr. Willie Morris previously wrote a nice book about his dog's awesomeness. He couldn't imagine liking cats. That cat hater falls in love and marries a cat lady. He comes to his senses and becomes an ailurophile. Cat guardians will enjoy this book. The author captures cats' charming features through everyday life and interactions. Mr. Morris is a great storyteller. I just wish the author had spayed/neutered his pets and kept them indoors.

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[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willie Morris is a professed "cat hater" or perhaps the correct wording would be "devoted to dogs and therefore wants nothing to do with cats." He makes reference to he's previous book, My Dog Skip, on several occasions and the first few chapters are more about his life with dogs. Morris's life changes when after his is engaged to his second wife, a relationship that progressed slowly, he discovers she is a "Cat Woman,". And often refers to her by this name. Once the cat(s) story begins it is more interesting for some one like myself who is a cat loved.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is very much a Southern memoir about a cat hating turned cat loving man with some bits about his cats. To be fair it'd be hard to fill a book on the life of a fat happy house cat. I have'em and love 'em but they really don't do much. So I understand the author's search for content. Why this is a barely 2 star book is the south centric focus. The South (to this Midwesterner) is a lot like one of my self absorbed cats just not that interesting. It was a chore to finish this book and I do not recommend even to other cat fans.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great descriptions of various cats, Spit in particular, and funny mini-stories throughout.

But in the end, it seemed a bit trivial. It's a cat that dog people like. I'll alert the papers.

Apparently I just wasn't in the mood for this one, but it does seem like Morris has a knack for animal descriptions. I'll give 'ole My Dog Skip a try at some point and see if he can't connect with me a bit more...

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a light read that wasn't depressing, and this one fit the bill. It's a charming story of how a dog man came to learn to love his cat Spit McGee, and the biggest plus is that both of them are still alive at the end of the book! Unknown to me, Willie Morris was a well-known and well-regarded author/editor who chronicled much of the middle of the 20th century in memoirs, essays and non-fiction books.

[Lia Nickol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted to the cover too, but as a Cat, Dog and Bird Person i find this book quite Informative and humorous. Started yesterday I might read it till the end of today ....

So far I learned lots interesting facts to know: for example that only giraffes, camels and cats walk and run by first moving the front and back legs on one side, then the front and back legs on the OTHER side. Try to imagine it, i smile

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a way this is a sequel to My Dog Skip by the same author. That sweet book was about a dog that the author had as a boy. This book is about a cat that the man had as an adult and the humorous transformation that changed him from someone who really disliked cats to someone who loved them. As with the other book, I appreciated the fact that it was not a major tear-jerker at the end, like so many books about animals.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved Spit McGee, of course - not so much the author or the book itself. The author took lots of time writing a book about Spit, but spent little time taking good care if Spit. I'm sure he loved the cat, but the cat needed more care than he got. If you adopt an animal, I believe they deserve better care than living wild.