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Review of My Cat

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Combining the satisfaction of pure judgement present in 'F in Exams' with the hilarity of cats in ' I Can Has Cheezburger' comes this collection of the very best - and worst - reviews of cats from around the globe. From the cat who saved its owner's life to the absolute laziest ball of fur on Earth, they're all inside!

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2013

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Tanner Ringerud

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5 stars
65 (38%)
4 stars
41 (24%)
3 stars
43 (25%)
2 stars
14 (8%)
1 star
6 (3%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
Profile Image for karen.
4,012 reviews172k followers
July 2, 2018
this is my cat maggie:

 photo DSC03620_zps4613d1ce.jpg

this is my review of my cat, using the guidelines offered in this book and its site: http://www.reviewofmycat.com/

appearance - A

anyone who doesn't give their cat an A in this category is an asshole. i was genuinely surprised to see so many people giving their cats passing or low marks in this category. it made me want to go over there and stomp on those people and remove their cats from their horrible and judgmental assessments. i mean, my cat is particularly beautiful, yes, but saying a cat is "too fat" just means you are an asshole. seriously.

sociability - B minus

maggie is social on her own terms. and i expect nothing less. if i wanted a pet who was going to jump all over me and be demonstratively loving and loyal, i would have gotten a dog. she will allow me to pet her until she wearies of me, and then i get a swat, usually with claws retracted. sometimes, she is a little less polite about it and then i get the claws, but that's my own fault. she really likes to be petted when she eats, though, which i think is adorable. mostly, she likes to be near, but just out of arm's reach. so, not the most social, but whenever i am sad or sick, she will come over for snuggles. can't ask for much more.

usefulness - B

again, i'm not sure just how useful a cat can be expected to be. would she rescue me from a fire?? probably not. would she call 911 if i had a seizure? not likely. but she does make me happy, and that's pretty useful. when i sing in the shower, she will pad into the bathroom and sit on the toilet seat, so she is a good audience, and every time i get out of the shower, concert or not, she will lick my arm, saving me tedious arm-drying time. also, if i ever have anything that is not shredded: a bag, important documents, my old prom dress - i know that sooner or later, she will take care of that for me. usually at 4 in the morning.

huggability - C

she allows very brief hugs. i have learned to get them when and while i can. after that, there is squirming and then usually a beeline to the food bowl as though she expects some kind of reward for the trauma i have caused her. i have resigned myself to the "short hug," which is a modified hug where her hind feet do not have to leave the floor, and i just bend over and pick her up by her front paws, center her spine against my chest and rub her toe beans gently, hugging lightly around her and smelling the spot between her ears before easing her back down. this seems acceptable to her.

overall grade - A plus

yeah, i was never very good at math. but i do love my cat.

come to my blog!
Profile Image for Lilo.
131 reviews485 followers
November 15, 2013
This book is a must-see, must-read, and must-enjoy for every true cat lover.

Now for those of you who you are considering to adopt a cat: Do not believe a word about any rating other than A or B. These ratings, or rather marks like in a report card, are nothing but slander, SLANDER! ... S L A N D E R !!!

Cats are the most wonderful and adorable creatures on this earth. And everyone who says anything different should be, ... should be, ... well I just can't think of any appropriate torture for the moment. Maybe I'll, at least, sue the authors of this book for slander. And I'll come up with plenty of witnesses, that is, our 31 cats.

As to our cats: I'll state right here that none of them deserve any marks below A, or maybe B, except for Bitchy Lucy (who hates other cats and will ambush them) or Sally (who will call us names when we don't oblige to her wishes) or Bobby (who thinks he is not allowed in the house because he hasn't marked it enough yet). The latter three might only get a +C.

Did I mention Sassy? Well, she didn't believe in using litter boxes. But Sassy has gone to the eternal hunting grounds. "De mortui nil nisi bene." ("You should never say anything other than good about the deceased.") So let's give her an A posthum.
Profile Image for Théo d'Or .
651 reviews307 followers
Read
February 5, 2024
Today, Sex ( my bloody cat ) - asked me a very difficult question.
" What is more digestible, a review as long as an elephant's trunk, or short as a mouse's tail ? "
I'm still working on his menu. Hard times.
Profile Image for katnick.
93 reviews1 follower
June 2, 2015
I was lucky enough to win a copy of this book in a Goodreads giveaway, and before I tell you what I think of it, I have another confession to make: I'm a cat person. I have a cat, I consider four other cats family members, and I have a wide circle of feline acquaintances. I even have a folder full of cat memes on my computer. I'm slightly biased, is the point I'm trying to make here.

Having said that, I really liked Review of My Cat. It's full of cute photos of people's pet cats (including Lil Bub!) and an owner-submitted 'report card' rating their appearance, sociability, usefulness, and huggability (meant purely for fun – everyone loves their cats, even if they're ugly, cranky, and vicious). Anyone who owns (or indeed has met) a cat will laugh at the stories of ornery cats flopping across homework, bombing through the house at 3am, leaving legless spiders on the doormat, and disappearing right when you want to show them off to friends.

It's not a perfect book, of course. The photos are owner submitted, so some are blurry, pixelated, or shot at a bad angle. Not all of the report cards feature all four categories, either. I assume some responses were cut because they were too long, too similar, or too boring. So it's a quick read – more of a gift/coffee table book than a piece of literature - but it's colorful and I can think of at least half a dozen people off the top of my head who would like one for Christmas. The only people I wouldn't buy this for are cat people who are overly sensitive to criticism of their cat (or cats in general).
Profile Image for Mehsi.
15.1k reviews454 followers
February 13, 2016
I found this book yesterday at a book market and after checking it, I had to have it.

I am allergic to cats myself, but I love to read about cats a lot (maybe a way to make up with the lack of cats in my life).

This books is hilarious, funny and brilliant. Full of jokes, sarcasm and editor fixes (yes the editors changed the rating, or added lines to the reports when they thought the cat deserved/didn't deserve something).
Every cat has two pages. One with a photograph of the cat, with under the photograph a name and the owner's name(s). The next page is all about the report. And the reports can be anything from a full page to only 2 sentences and a rating.

And this disappointed me a bit. I expected full reports, or at least 2 or 3 subjects minimum. Instead sometimes there was only one subject and only shortly explained why the rating. I wanted to know more about the cat, more about the other subjects that others did get. And it felt a bit unbalanced/inconsistent. Like they didn't care about it any more.

Another things that stood out were the themes (Good/bad/ugly etc.). I didn't really understand why some got added to one theme while in fact they had quite high marks for that theme (like for instant bad, and they didn't have that bad of grades). And I had kind of expected that things went from highest to lowest, not just a random mix of numbers. You would have on one page a cat with an A, the next cat would have a A+, then the next would have a C.

But luckily the reports, the photograph and in line comments make up for everything and that is a big reason why it got a 5 stars. I was just laughing aloud, sharing with my boyfriend the most funny things, causing him to laugh as well.

And those names, at times I just felt so sorry for the little kitties.

All in all this is one book I would recommend. You need something funny? You don't feel to happy? Want something short and fun? Read this one and your day will brighten and you will feel all happy.

And me? I will hope that we will get another book of this one. Maybe this time about dogs?

Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Profile Image for Rihab.
188 reviews63 followers
April 27, 2019
I loved the cover that's why i decided to read the book !
It was funny at the beginning but then .. so boring .

These are some parts that i liked :

Cats just lie around in whatever spot of sunshine they can find, waiting for us to fawn over them and feed them. It’s actually a pretty brilliant move on their part. They’ve adapted in every way to be our masters. They control everything we do.
___

We feed them, we seek their affection, and we get rid of their poop for them. And for all that,
what do we get back?
It depends on who you ask. A lot of people would say nothing. But cat moms and cat dads know better.
___

It’s the little things that make it all worthwhile.
A gentle head butt on our shins when we get home, an evening spent quietly curled up in our laps, the way they come looking for affection when we’re sitting on the toilet. Cats don’t care. They may be small moments, but they mean so much to all of us. Our cats make it clear that despite everything, they love us. That’s why we do it. That’s why we love them.
Profile Image for Nick.
Author 21 books141 followers
November 11, 2013
Where was this book when I was growing up, wondering if it was me, or my cat, that was crazy? This book will strike an enormous blow for mental health everywhere by showing cats just what we think of them, really. In the end, it's all about giving yourself permission to grade your cat. Thank you, Tanner and Jack, for making this new step in human-feline relations possible. I'm now on the road to recovery.
Profile Image for Selena Pigoni.
1,938 reviews263 followers
June 8, 2016
At first I was all
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And then I was all
 photo snore_zps2f19e55c.jpg

It gets really repetitive after a while. It starts funny, but after about the 10th review, you start realizing that they're all pretty much the same. If you like cats, you'll get a laugh, but after a while you'll get bored.
Profile Image for Amy Binkerd.
Author 1 book7 followers
November 7, 2013
OH. MY. GOODNESS!! I laughed so hard I was crying at my desk at work. Every cat in the book has a characteristic of my cat Nimrod. The lady who sits beside me and I both have a cat, and we were cracking up at so many of the entries. This book is so much fun! BUT, you HAVE to be a cat owner to appreciate it fully. READ THIS BOOK!
Profile Image for Helena.
97 reviews
January 28, 2015
This book wasn't exactly what I expected. I thought it would be more stories about cats or the type of list humour you see on Buzzfeed. Maybe I sort of expected anecdotes or photos. I didn't expect it to be a book full of profiles. I don't know. It just wasn't for me.
124 reviews
October 28, 2013
I received this as a goodreads first-read giveaway. It was amusing . It made me want to rate my cats as well as appreciate them more. I was expecting this to be a little more numerous but it was enjoyable.
Profile Image for wildct2003.
3,588 reviews5 followers
May 10, 2014
I don't agree with all of the reviews/ratings, but reading the descriptions and looking at the photos was entertaining.
Profile Image for Jodi.
493 reviews4 followers
April 8, 2018
Hissterical...I saw so many of my cats in these tiny vignettes - and found myself, over and over, nodding my head in agreement! To all the cat parents who contributed their honest "reviews" of their cat's behavior and purrsonalities, thank you for the laughs!
Profile Image for Helen.
3,654 reviews82 followers
April 26, 2025
This is a sweet book! Cat parents write "reviews" about the behavior of their cats. The "grading" is very tongue-in-cheek! I loved the photos of the cats! I was glad to find out I am not the only cat-parent whose cats don't want me to pick them up!
Profile Image for Elizabeth.
693 reviews1 follower
February 6, 2019
Funny, cute, fast read. Must love/have cats. Slightly repetitive, but great for a quick flip-through and chuckle.
Profile Image for Kathleen Riley-Daniels.
33 reviews2 followers
February 28, 2014
Like most cat lovers, I have seen the funny, sweet and entertaining posts about cats http://www.buzzfeed.com/tag/cats, a website that features things I can't stop sharing with my friends...

Now Tanner Ringerud and Jack Shepherd, two of the founders of the Buzzfeed site, have have created Review of My Cat http://amzn.to/MBLJGV, based on their popular Tumblr blog http://www.reviewofmycat.com/

Although I am more of a dog person, I can appreciate cats and enjoy capturing their personalities by making images of them, so I'm more of an appreciator than a devotee.

The book is divided into The Good, The Bad, The Really Bad, The Ugly, and the Useless. If this weren't a humorous book, those categories might have been a bit too much, but in this instance they play well for the book.

I laughed at some of the bad reviews and no matter what the grades, it is clear that all the participants love their cats. I enjoyed the photos and funny drawings too -- it was amusing.

The book features a handful of celebrity cats, like Lil’ Bub (the first cat featured in the “Good” section), and Colonel Meow (not in the “Good” section), but most of the cats are just regular cats in all their variety and beauty. I really like the average cats better than celebrity cats, but that is just me.

This is a cute little book that will make you smile, and occasionally nod in recognition as you "see" things you know about your cats and cats you have met. Guess what, your cat isn't the only one that does that!

The fine print: I received a copy of this book from the publisher. Receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Profile Image for Ruth Govaerts.
590 reviews35 followers
March 15, 2016
Wat een leuk boek! Het leek wel voor mij te zijn gemaakt. Ik krijg spontaan de neiging om ook een review over mijn kat te schrijven. Bij deze:

--

Naam kat: Jazz
Naam baasje(s): de familie Govaerts

Uiterlijk: Jazz is een zeer aantrekkelijke poes. Ze heeft een bruine, gezonde pels met enkele vurige rode plekken. Verder heeft ze goed verzorgde snorharen en een knappe staart. Enkel haar poten staan een beetje schuin, ze viel als baby uit een boom en loopt nu rond met een ijzeren staaf in haar goddelijke lichaam. Ik geef een mooie A- voor dit toppic.

Handigheid/bereidwilligheid: Jazz helpt in het huishouden, zij veegt vaak (onbewust) stof met haar staart. Daarnaast probeert Jazz vaak mollen te vangen, meestal vangt ze echter enkel het zand van de molshoop. Ze doet hoe dan ook haar best! Voor dit topic geef ik een B+...

Knuffelbaarheid: Jazz houdt van knuffelen maar wel enkel als het haar uitkomt. Als je terug komt van vakantie bijvoorbeeld. Heel af en toe kijkt ze vanop je schoot mee tv. Voor dit topic krijgt Jazz een B!

Sociale vaardigheden: Jazz houdt niet van andere poezen. Of ze van mensen houdt weet ik niet zeker, ze slaapt meestal als we bezoek hebben. Voor dit topic krijgt Jazz een B-.

Jazz krijgt als totale score een B. Knap werk, poes!
Profile Image for Christyn.
587 reviews23 followers
October 27, 2015
Review of My Cat was mildly amusing and entertaining. It wasn't super funny but there were a few entries that made me laugh. I was expecting it to be a bit more humorous and some of the cats didn't really seem to "fit" the categories they were placed under but it was a good book to read through in between studying.

The book is organized into categories: The Good, The Bad, The Really Bad and The Useless. I think my favorite category was The Good, but even the other categories had their own stars - like Colonel Meow from The Really Bad and Topher from the Useless. Each cat was rated based on Appearance, Sociability, Usefulness and/or Huggability (some were rated on one thing, others were rated on all, and some were in between).

While I didn't agree with all the ratings, I didn't really pay attention to the ratings after a while. I was mostly entertained by cat pictures and their descriptions.
Profile Image for AquaMoon.
1,680 reviews56 followers
October 14, 2015
Review of My Cat came recommended by one of my teen patrons. Amusing, snarky, and full of photos of adorable cats, this is was a quick read. I really enjoyed it.

One complaint: How can any of these cat owners give their so-called beloved pets anything below an "A+" rating in anything? These folks who rated their cats as unattractive or useless... Shame on them! Just because Mr. Whiskers isn't an internet sensation or Best In Show, doesn't mean he's ugly. And just because Fluffer-Nutter doesn't save babies from fires or discover cures for cancer and the common cold doesn't mean she's useless.

Other than my rage against owners who diss their kittehs, this book was awesome :)
Profile Image for Susan.
679 reviews
April 7, 2014
Yes, really, reviews/grades of cats. Based on appearance, usefulness, sociability, and huggability, pets are evaluated. Reviews are then categorized into the good, the bad, the ugly, and the useless. Some pretty funny stuff. Funny, of course, because anyone who has ever had or been around a cat will recognize the utter futility of complaining about or trying to understand cat behavior and also the fact that we are under their spell. No matter how evil or useless, all these cats are loved and the owners submit to the cats' quirky needs and demands. Lots of cute kitties :)
Profile Image for Joey.
8 reviews4 followers
April 12, 2014
I picked the book up thinking it'd be cute. And it was... but 256 pages of this? It got long-winded pretty quick. Towards the end I was just looking at the pictures and names of the cats, some of which are quite interesting (I'm looking at you, Fuzzy Joe Biden).

The book would be nice if you were Angela from The Office, but otherwise, the website is enough for most people (and for some people, more than enough.)
Profile Image for E.
37 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2016
Amusing, good coffee table material or in the bathroom as it consists of quick bios of cats. The cats presented are normal cats but the way the owners wrote is most amusing and so kudos to their hilarity. Makes me wonder two things: how would I rate my cat, and why didn't I think of it? If you love all cats, including the ugly and useless and angry, then this book is for you.
Profile Image for Jenna Lee.
5 reviews5 followers
July 4, 2016
This book is hilarious! It doesn't get four or five stars because there were some spelling errors as well as inconsistencies in the way that the ratings were calculated. Also, the book would have been ten times better if it included a few pages for you to review your own cat or cats. Other than that, a quick and funny read. I highly recommend it to all cat lovers!
Profile Image for Sarah.
444 reviews
February 16, 2014
Laugh out loud funny especially of you are owned by a cat. I bought on impulse and loved it, got lots of weird looks from Sam the Man as I read it and pointed at him going "That is totally you" Recommend for any cat lover.
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