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Feline Frolics #2
Cats in May
'All our animals showed their independence at a dishearteningly early age.' The Toveys attempt to settle down to a quiet life in the country. Unfortunately for them, however, their tyrannical Siamese cats have other ideas. From causing an uproar on the BBC to staying out all night and claiming to have been kidnapped, Sheba and Solomon's outrageous behaviour leaves the Toveys at their wits end. Meanwhile Doreen has to contend with her husband's disastrous skills as a handyman, and a squirrel that chews the buttons off all his suits. Both human and animal characters come to life on the page, including Sidney the problem-prone gardener and Blondin the brandy-swilling squirrel. This witty and stylish tale will have animal-lovers giggling to the very last page.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1959
62 people are currently reading
221 people want to read
About the author
Doreen Tovey
19 books33 followersDoreen was born in Bristol on 24 October 1918. At this time a flu epidemic was raging and her mother died from this leaving her two week old daughter to be brought up by her Grandmother, as her father, being an engineer, was away from home for long periods of time.
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
It was this upbringing that introduced Doreen to a variety of pets, as Grandmother was an inveterate rescuer of anything in need.
Together with her Aunt Louisa they shared a house with cats, dogs and an owl called Gladstone whose perch on the bathroom door dictated that the use of this room was a swift one as no heat could be kept inside with the continually open door.
Doreen went to Grammar School and passed her matric (as it was called then), she would have loved to go to university but knew her grandmother could never have afforded it.
After a couple of boring jobs she joined Imperial Tobacco and was with them for many years. Starting as a typist, then a secretary and, when they discovered that she could write, in their public relations department.
It was here that she met Rene, who was in the Accountants Department. They met on the staircase one day and six months later Rene went to war in the Royal Navy.
Rene came home on leave and they were married in Bristol by special licence on a Monday afternoon and spent a two-day honeymoon on a farm and Rene went back to war.
She spent most of the time Rene was away with her Aunt Louisa who made life quite fun for Doreen after the austerity of her Victorian grandmother, who loved her dearly but had set ideas how a young lady should be brought up.
Two and a half years later Rene was on his way home. His convoy coming via the Cape to avoid the still roaming enemy submarines, the war was still on and he was sent to London where Doreen was transferred to be with him. He was then posted to a shore station in the West Country and Doreen and Rene set about to find their dream cottage. They rented a very dilapidated ex public house with an earth closet, the dream cottage put on hold, both back working in Bristol for their old firm, Doreen now as their statistical librarian, writing reports that were read by the Board. A job normally only considered for a man.
After a couple of further moves, a Georgian relic and a happy period in a farm, they found the perfect place at Rowberrow, Somerset. They had also found a baby squirrel, which had fallen from its drey and Rene refused to climb the thirty feet necessary to return the little bedraggled mite to its nest. So Blondin became part of the Tovey family and unwittingly the reason Doreen and Rene got their first Siamese cat, Sugieh.
Blondin was a hoarder and the cottage soon became infested with mice looking for Blondin’s nuts and pieces of bread that he had stuffed under cushions and carpets for his rainy day. Whilst the mice had plenty to eat they did not cause too many problems but when Blondin caught a chill and died, their supply died too and they took to eating anything and everything. Doreen decided to get a cat and having seen a neighbour’s Siamese out for a stroll one day on a rather fetching collar and lead, decided that a Siamese would be the answer, she could also have a litter and maybe raise the Tovey finances.
Sugieh produced a litter of four kittens. Doreen decided that one’s fortune was not going to be made that way and when Sugeih died whilst being spayed (a far less straightforward procedure in the mid 1950s than it is today), decided to keep a sealpointed boy called Solomon and his bluepointed sister Sheba.
The antics of these kittens, a donkey called Annabel and the following Siamese inmates of The White Cottage were to bring Doreen world wide recognition of her books and writings, starting with ‘Cats In The Belfry’ published in 1957. The Canadian Government sponsored her and Rene on a trip to the Rockies to write about the Canadian Wildlife, with special focus on Grizzly bears. This trip can be read about in ‘The Co
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
April 6, 2019
A charming quick read, full of humorous stories of English country life, centered on the loving ministrations of two naturalists to two Siamese cats. The cats aren't spoiled; they just act that way.
June 15, 2018
The sequel is just as good as the original (Cats in the Belfry). Along with feline antics we get the adventures of Blondin the squirrel, whom Tovey and her husband adopted before they started keeping Siamese cats. (He was just as destructive as the pets that came after him, but I had to love his fondness for tea.) Solomon and Sheba appear on the BBC and object in the strongest possible terms when Doreen and Charles try to introduce a third Siamese, a kitten named Samson, to the household. The flu, visits from the rector’s grandson, and periodic troubles with their old farmhouse, including a chimney fire, round out this highly amusing story of life with pets.
My copy, which I think is a first edition, came from one of the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye.
My copy, which I think is a first edition, came from one of the bookshops in Hay-on-Wye.
February 23, 2012
The book was okay but I leave the book feeling that I know no more about Doreen, Charles and their cats than before I started reading the book. I just never managed to connect with Tovey's writing style and the chapters had the feeling of being stories that were only funny if one had been there.
May 5, 2016
Não sei se é por já ter lido vários livros sobre gatos, mas este não me entusiasmou por aí além.
A escrita da autora não ajudou, pois por vezes torna-se confusa e acabamos por perder o fio à meada.
A escrita da autora não ajudou, pois por vezes torna-se confusa e acabamos por perder o fio à meada.
February 7, 2016
Eu adoro livros sobre animais.
Sobre o viver com eles e amá-los.
Sobre o quão surpreendente e fantásticos eles são.
E sobre o quanto eles nos enriquecem e alegram o dia mais horrível que possamos vivenciar.
Mas desculpem... este livro é chaaato, chatinho.
Boooring
Sobre o viver com eles e amá-los.
Sobre o quão surpreendente e fantásticos eles são.
E sobre o quanto eles nos enriquecem e alegram o dia mais horrível que possamos vivenciar.
Mas desculpem... este livro é chaaato, chatinho.
Boooring
January 26, 2020
Este livrinho foi-me oferecido pela Inês Norton e eu estava muito curiosa pois (já toda a gente sabe) adoro gatos! No entanto, teve a "ingrata" tarefa de ser a leitura seguinte a três livros que me encheram as medidas.
É um livro que nos conta várias peripécias dos dois gatos siameses de Doreen e Charles Tovey, a Sheba e o Solomon, e temos cenas que acabam por ser bem divertidas. A juntar a estes disparates felinos, temos também a falta de aptidão de Charles para os "arranjos domésticos" e algumas cenas com a vizinhança. E foram estes dois aspectos que me levaram a descer a classificação. É certo que são cenas cómicas e em que tudo lhes acontece, no entanto, senti que a autora divagou bastante, afastando-se do tema principal do livro, que seriam os gatos. Chegamos até a ter dois ou três capítulos dedicados ao Blondin, um esquilo que o casal teve antes dos gatos.
Eu compreendo que estes relatos "extra" acabam por dar um sentido maior de realidade e familiaridade ao livro, no entanto, num livro tão pequeno e com o título "Gatos em Maio", o que pretendemos é ler muito mais sobre os gatos.
Ainda assim foi uma leitura bastante divertida.
É um livro que nos conta várias peripécias dos dois gatos siameses de Doreen e Charles Tovey, a Sheba e o Solomon, e temos cenas que acabam por ser bem divertidas. A juntar a estes disparates felinos, temos também a falta de aptidão de Charles para os "arranjos domésticos" e algumas cenas com a vizinhança. E foram estes dois aspectos que me levaram a descer a classificação. É certo que são cenas cómicas e em que tudo lhes acontece, no entanto, senti que a autora divagou bastante, afastando-se do tema principal do livro, que seriam os gatos. Chegamos até a ter dois ou três capítulos dedicados ao Blondin, um esquilo que o casal teve antes dos gatos.
Eu compreendo que estes relatos "extra" acabam por dar um sentido maior de realidade e familiaridade ao livro, no entanto, num livro tão pequeno e com o título "Gatos em Maio", o que pretendemos é ler muito mais sobre os gatos.
Ainda assim foi uma leitura bastante divertida.
July 6, 2017
A sweet and fun book about two Siamese cats and the people they own.
If you are looking for something to read with absolutely no snark, no cynicism, and no sadness, try this one.
Reading it just made me happy!
If you are looking for something to read with absolutely no snark, no cynicism, and no sadness, try this one.
Reading it just made me happy!
August 3, 2011
Meet Sheba and Solomon, Siamese cats-at-large. They reside with the Toveys, Doreen and Charles, in a 250-year-old cottage in Somerset, England. It would be a mistake to refer to the Toveys as “owners.” They are more correctly called “companions” and “care-givers.” Mrs. Tovey’s charming writing style, along with her wit, will captivate you as she regales you with the antics of these two cat creatures. Thrown in for good measure are a nibbling, brandy-drinking squirrel, hand-raised from babyhood, and a wandering tortoise. If this isn’t enough, Mrs. Tovey is equally entertaining as she recalls some of the repairs her decided unhandy husband, along with an equally unhandy handyman, strove to undertake. Throw in some delightful illustrations by Dan Brown, and you have a wonderful way to spend an afternoon. Don’t forget to brew a cup of English tea before you settle down, hopefully with a cat of your own.
December 13, 2020
I find a first edition copy in a secondhand book barn. The salmon pink sleeve depicts two Siamese cats and a squirrel. Reading the contemporary (1959) reviews on the back, I learn that the Toveys have a pet squirrel called Blondin. The squirrel’s passing leads the couple to adopt a Siamese cat, Sugieh. The cat births twins Solomon and Sheba, whose adventures inside (and outside) the Tovey household are at the heart of this story.
Despite being a ‘dog person’, I wonder what can possibly go wrong with such a premise? It seems like the basis at the very least of a mildly amusing story. Humour has changed since the 1950s and I take the reviewers’ ascriptions (“funniest”, “rollicking” and “wildly hilarious”) with a pinch of salt.
I purchase the book, and the following day read it in one sitting. It turns out to be a lighthearted collection of anecdotes about the interactions between Solomon, Sheba, Mr Tovey, Mrs Tovey, and the other people and animals in the West Country village of Halstock. (Doreen Tovey’s obituary states that the cottage - to which the Toveys move in the story - was in fact in Rowberrow.) Accordingly, the reader gets a glimpse of village life in mid-twentieth century England. Blondin’s story is inserted as a flashback, but merges with the theme of larger-than-life animal personalities.
One moment in particular makes me laugh out loud: when Sidney, a local builder and handyman who helps the Toveys now and then, is contracted to build the first ‘contemporary’ house in the village, he and his workmates show off their agility by using the as-yet-glassless windows as doors. The moment comes, however, when Sidney enters the building unaware that the window panes have been installed, and of course smashes headfirst through the glass.
Despite being a ‘dog person’, I wonder what can possibly go wrong with such a premise? It seems like the basis at the very least of a mildly amusing story. Humour has changed since the 1950s and I take the reviewers’ ascriptions (“funniest”, “rollicking” and “wildly hilarious”) with a pinch of salt.
I purchase the book, and the following day read it in one sitting. It turns out to be a lighthearted collection of anecdotes about the interactions between Solomon, Sheba, Mr Tovey, Mrs Tovey, and the other people and animals in the West Country village of Halstock. (Doreen Tovey’s obituary states that the cottage - to which the Toveys move in the story - was in fact in Rowberrow.) Accordingly, the reader gets a glimpse of village life in mid-twentieth century England. Blondin’s story is inserted as a flashback, but merges with the theme of larger-than-life animal personalities.
One moment in particular makes me laugh out loud: when Sidney, a local builder and handyman who helps the Toveys now and then, is contracted to build the first ‘contemporary’ house in the village, he and his workmates show off their agility by using the as-yet-glassless windows as doors. The moment comes, however, when Sidney enters the building unaware that the window panes have been installed, and of course smashes headfirst through the glass.
May 15, 2025
Doreen Tovey and her husband live in the country, firmly under the paw of their Siamese cats - when they're not being ruled by a rescued baby squirrel instead! The amusing antics of their various animals provide a light-hearted story that made me laugh often. I'm usually not a fan of books that include imaginary conversations between real animals, but Tovey is so good at portraying animal personality that her cats' comments come across as totally believable. A lovely cheerful book which was perfect escape material during a stressful family emergency.
October 6, 2020
I'm working my way through these during the nights I can't sleep or wake up with a nightmare. My mum gave me the third one in the series during lockdown and I've gone back to read them in order. This is book two. It is exactly what you would expect if you've read any of the other books by Tovey. Tales of how her and her husband's lives are totally ruled by the animals they keep, particularly their Siamese cats. Light, frothy, silly and an easy read in the best way. Gently amusing.
May 31, 2017
Beh pensavo meglio , ma siccome neanche il primo libro "roba da gatti" mi aveva entusiasmata me lo aspettavo. La scrittrice parla troppo dei siamesi come razza come se loro fossero migliori degli altri gatti, con il loro carattere e i loro essere speciali, mentre io penso che tutti i gatti siano speciali.
September 14, 2018
I really liked the first book, but this one was a disappointment. There are too many stories about her husband, her neighbors, and other people. There were even two chapters about the squirrel who died before they ever got the cats. I wanted to read more about the cats.
June 26, 2019
This follows the Belfry book with its play on "Nuts" and Bats," but back tracks with a chapter on the squirrel Blondin, then their efforts to add a kitten to the menagerie. I had trouble stifling my laughter while reading and my husband looked at me oddly.
November 23, 2019
For lovers of Siamese cats
If you're a fan of Siamese cats, this series is for you!
For someone who has loved and endured these creatures antics, these books are charming as well as laugh out loud funny.
If you're a fan of Siamese cats, this series is for you!
For someone who has loved and endured these creatures antics, these books are charming as well as laugh out loud funny.
August 11, 2017
Very funny story of a couple & their unique pets.
May 10, 2020
Histórias engraçadas. A escrita não é propriamente fácil de compreender, acabando, por vezes, por ser bastante confusa
May 27, 2021
Hilarious
No book has made me laugh as much as this one! As a cat person all my life I can relate to much of it.
No book has made me laugh as much as this one! As a cat person all my life I can relate to much of it.
March 18, 2022
Love the cats
Love all the antics the cats get up to. Also how the people end up in trouble. Great series of books. X
Love all the antics the cats get up to. Also how the people end up in trouble. Great series of books. X
June 24, 2024
🐈🌷such a cute memoir, i love the way the personality of cats was captured so well. took a star off due to the writing style, i found it a bit awkward at times. 3.5/5
December 31, 2024
Bastante coñazo, la verdad
November 25, 2012
Avere in casa due gatti vivaci rende la vita movimentata.
Avere in casa due gatti siamesi vivaci può rendere la vita (vagamente) catastrofica.
Sheba e Solomon, i due felini di cui l'autrice ci parla in questo libro (che è il seguito di Roba da gatti), sono due mici tutto pepe, ringalluzziti dalla loro recente comparsa in televisione: cosa che li fa apparire ancora più superbi di quanto non lo sia comunemente un micio.
Tra le pagine di Gatti con le ali Doreen Tovey racconta le marachelle e i disastri a cui i suoi gatti l'hanno abituata, con un senso dell'umorismo che spesso fa sorridere. Chi ha dei gatti in casa può comprendere facilmente, mettersi nei panni della Tovey e apprezzare la sua scrittura.
Un libro piacevole per passare qualche ora. Unico neo, piuttosto vistoso peraltro, è la tendenza spiccata che ha l'autrice di far "parlare" e "pensare" i suoi gatti come se fossero degli umani.
February 15, 2014
Cronologicamente parlando, questo libro è direttamente successivo a "Roba da gatti" e racconta, come nel precedente, le disavventure dei Tovey con i siamesi (Solomon e Sheba), con i vicini e con gli altri animali del passato (qui ci raccontano ancora le avventure con lo scoiattolo Blondin, causa diretta dell'arrivo dei simalesi in casa Tovey).
Scritto alla fine degli anni '50 del secolo scorso, presenta ancora situazioni legate alla scarsa modernità del loro cottage e della società britannica in generale, ma resta sempreverde per quello che riguarda la follia andante collegata alla presenza dei siamesi nel loro circolo familiare e in quelli dei loro vicini ed amici.
Come gli altri libri della serie, compresi quelli non strettametne legati ai gatti (mai arrivati in Italia), può essere apprezzato anche da lettori non ailurofili, ma solo chi ha a che fare con i gatti e, soprattutto, con i siamesi sa che tutto quello che è raccontato è solo una parte della verità.
Scritto alla fine degli anni '50 del secolo scorso, presenta ancora situazioni legate alla scarsa modernità del loro cottage e della società britannica in generale, ma resta sempreverde per quello che riguarda la follia andante collegata alla presenza dei siamesi nel loro circolo familiare e in quelli dei loro vicini ed amici.
Come gli altri libri della serie, compresi quelli non strettametne legati ai gatti (mai arrivati in Italia), può essere apprezzato anche da lettori non ailurofili, ma solo chi ha a che fare con i gatti e, soprattutto, con i siamesi sa che tutto quello che è raccontato è solo una parte della verità.
July 25, 2012
Devo dire che questo secondo episodio di questa saga gattosa mi ha un po' annoiata. Soprattutto nella prima parte è tutto improntato sulla scia del libro precedente, sembra di leggere quasi le stesse cose, una sequela di aneddoti e divagazioni sparse sulla vita dei coniugi Tovey con i loro gatti e i loro strampalati vicini. Alcune vicende sono abbastanza divertenti, altre meno... poi fortunatamente dalla seconda metà in poi le cose migliorano e i contenuti diventano un po' più interessanti. Però devo ammettere che ciò nonostante la scrittura dell'autrice mi irrita, la ritengo poco scorrevole (spesso ci sono delle parentesi lunghissime che fanno perdere il senso delle frasi) e caotica (non so se sia colpa della traduzione o cosa). Sono un'amante dei gatti... ma questi libri non riescono a convincermi.
November 24, 2011
Apparently a sequel, but amusing hijinks of the Toveys and their pets. In particular, their Siamese cats.
This is good old fashioned light entertainment. Keeping a pet squirrel; Siamese cats prowling in the snow; how are pets react to our illnesses (really, you’re still in bed? Because, I’m quite hungry). If you like animals, then this is pretty much guaranteed to bring a smile to your face.
July 23, 2015
This book isn't for everyone. The author's writing style is very peculiar, even confusing at times.
The other quirk that will not appeal to everyone is that there isn't a plot, really. It's a collection of anectdotes about a couple and their cats.
If, like me, you'll read anything about cats (because they are perfect and the best), you'll probably enjoy it. You'll get a handful of grins but don't expect "laugh out loud" humour.
The other quirk that will not appeal to everyone is that there isn't a plot, really. It's a collection of anectdotes about a couple and their cats.
If, like me, you'll read anything about cats (because they are perfect and the best), you'll probably enjoy it. You'll get a handful of grins but don't expect "laugh out loud" humour.
March 15, 2009
yet another book in Doreen's series. Very short, very sweet, and a laugh out loud book. If you are an animal lover, you should appreciate this book. who know Siamese had such distinct personalities and you could raise a squirrel semi-domestically. Lighthearted, very english....learned a few new unknown British terms and oh so enjoyable.
April 7, 2011
I don't think I LOL as much in this one, but I still loved it. I liked the chapter on Blondin - to get the 'rest of the story' on him. Highly recommended for cat lovers or non-cat lovers who may rejoice the are NOT owned by any cats! I'm just happy my 4 aren't Siamese and are thus much quieter, just as curious and aggravating and endearing, but oh, so much quieter!
June 23, 2015
While I really enjoyed the descriptions of the cats, and how much they "talked," the writing style made it hard to enjoy. There are way too many instances of going off on some random tangent right in the middle of a sentence. It's in practically every other paragraph. By the time the original sentence is finished, we've forgotten what the first half said.
February 22, 2010
Another of Tovey's fun little books about her life with her cats in an English village. This one wanders far and wide, encompassing a pet squirrel, drainage improvements, and the young grandson of a neighbor. It's light, frothy and amusing, but somehow not as wonderful as the first one.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews