Oscar: The Bionic Cat

by Kate Allan

"I popped into the newsagent and there on the front page of our local daily newspaper was a picture of Oscar with the caption 'Meet the world's first bionic cat', with the full story appearing inside headed up, 'Puss in bionic boots'. I bought ten copies. The man in the shop looked at me quizzically. 'That's my cat!'"

When Kate Allan's beloved black cat, Oscar, is found lying severely injured in a field near their Jersey home, she is sure the accident-prone boy has met his end. With both hind legs severed by a combine harvester, Oscar's life hangs in the balance; luckily for him, his vet knows Noel Fitzpatrick, star of BBC One's "The Bionic Vet". Noel agrees to try pioneering surgery on Oscar to replace his legs with specially created prosthetics. Against all odds, Oscar comes back from the brink to become the world's very first bionic cat, and a feline celebrity.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, Biography

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2013

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Warning: This review contains spoilers but I wish I'd known before I read this. Read at your own peril though.


What a terrible book! I spent the entire 250 pages distraught. Think this is going to be a story that (obviously) starts in disaster but then has lots of cute happy kittytimes of Oscar running around on prosthetic legs? Well you would be wrong. It's disaster after disaster after disaster so don't expect to be jollied by kitty antics because you are going to have to go through Oscar being hit by multiple modes of transport, going through numerous major surgeries and being separated from him for months at a time. As a catlover, I wasn't really able to cope with this. Not only did I feel for Oscar and his family, but it made me keep thinking about what I would do if it happened to my cat. After finishing this book and finding out that that is not the end, AND that we don't even know what the end is (I've been furiously googling to find out whether this cat lives or dies) I grabbed my cat in a bear hug and probably snotted into her fur a little bit (sorry Chloe!). Overall, it's not one I think I'll be adding to my permanent catbio collection because I really won't be reading this again. It's just too sad. And there's not even any photos to cheer you as you read.

[Leila]

I enjoyed this short book overall. I loved reading about the lives of the author's cats and in particular - Oscar and was fascinated by the wonderful work done by Noel Fitzpatrick - a vet who was the star of the BBC's programme - ' The Bionic Vet' well known on TV. His bionic treatment saved Oscar and the front cover of the book shows the little cat with his new bionic back legs. Many cat owners would never have been able to afford the huge amounts of money that had to be raised for Oscar's various surgeries. Apparently they managed the cost by monthly payments and eventually took out insurance to help. Many vets are no longer prepared to do this and if a pet owner cannot afford to put down the appallingly high costs of treatment which is a heart breaking thing as the alternative is to have the pet put to sleep. Towards the end of the book I found it dragged a little as it was all about the publicity that arose towards Oscar from the media getting hold of Oscar's story and how the owners handled it. If you are a cat lover you will warm to this true story.

[Pumpkinpuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cat, what a story! I'm so glad we picked this book for our next book club meeting. It's very inspiring, and it's amazing what can happen when the right people are involved. A moving story, loving told. Keep the tissue box handy.

[Ellen Pilch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I adore this cat and his spunk so I gave the book 3 stars, but in general, I was irritated the entire time I read it. Oscar is a sweet cat whose owners allow him outside. He gets run over by a car and needs surgery then the idiots let him back out and it happens again. Then they let him out again- how stupid are some people? Then he gets run over by a combine harvester while napping in a nearby field. He loses both feet, but with luck and a lot of love is able to get bionic ones. And they still let him out.
The story of how he gets his feet is interesting, but I feel bad that he had to go through so much pain and rehabilitation because his owners were not responsible. I know some believe a cat should be allowed outside, but this is ridiculous.

[Leslie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Reading this book was a bit of an experiment. I am a former cat owner and a non cat lover. I am now a dog owner and I love my dog. I do not believe in a cat’s “right to roam” and hunt as this silly owner/author does. Oscar had continued mishaps and ended up at the vets and specialists sending these people with serious bills, which I find ridiculous. If Oscar (and 3 other cats) had a catio, I suppose there would be no book. I have a beautiful , cat loving friend that raved and recommended the book, so trying to keep an open mind, I agreed to read it and I will never get that time back. The best part of the book for me was learning about the isle of Jersey.

[Ky · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm docking two stars because this book really should have had another chapter. I wound up having to go to Wikipedia (yes, Oscar has his own Wikipedia article, and it's a spoiler if you haven't read this book yet) to find out what happened next.

Spoiler part below....

The final chapter makes it seem like Oscar will probably be euthanized, and it's a real mood whiplash. One more chapter reflecting the decision Kate and her husband actually made would have taken care of this.

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely heartwarming tale about a couple and their love for their accident prone back cat. It follows Oscar from being a kitten, to his accident(s) and losing his back feet, to becoming the bionic cat many in the world know him as today.

If you want a quick and uplifting read then this is a great book. I enjoyed it! I will say though I expected to be more moved - whilst their love for Oscar was clear it did seem a very matter of fact telling of an emotional and distressing experience.

[Jayne Shelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! Everything. Great little back stories and I enjoyed reading about their other 3 cats too. I am biased of course because I am a Mum to 4 black cats. I had to google Oscar afterwards and was pleased to find a tweet in 2018 that Oscar was eleven years old and still doing great! I also watched a few of the Youtube videos. Amazing story!

[Toe Of Man]

This is my cat and I have the legs on the leg, one time the legs grew so long that they ended up in Uganda ! I magazine that! What a crazy world we love on! I live Jesus Christ ! Rejoice ! Halllalelaygh!

[Anna Ward · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subject of the book was enjoyable to read about but god this is so terribly written and rambly. I only read this because my grandma bought it for me as I also have a cat named Oscar, I’d have given up otherwise

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

From cat-astrophic beginnings to an inspirational life. Oscar is a truly remarkable cat.

[Tania Laugier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, amazing story, wish I knew the outcome though

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book and story about Oscar the bionic cat

[Shiv Duthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable, heartwarming and also tearjerking! Oscar, and the science involved is remarkable!

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved reading this book, it's such an inspirational book and what Oscar has been through is incredible. He's one lucky cat 🐈‍⬛

[Janette Charman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming story of a very mischievous cat and his dedicated family.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this true story. Oscar is so brave, as are Kate and Mike. Left me wanting more.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oscar has certainly used up all of his nine lives - and more! Not content with being hit by a car and having to undergo surgery, he then found himself in the middle of an argument with a combine harvester.

Oscar is not your ordinary, everyday cat, and in this case the cat won! His owners, Kate and Mike were fortunate enough to have a wonderful vet who was determined that Oscar would walk again, he'd heard of the pioneering work done by the 'Bionic Vet' in London and soon plans were underway for Oscar to receive a pair of implants that would enable him to run and jump again.

I enjoyed reading about Oscar and his journey. I guess at times, this must have been a pretty difficult and emotional story for Kate Allan to re-tell. It is clear from her writing that she and her husband Mike adore Oscar, but also had their other three cats to consider. Oscar's treatment went on for a long time, with long periods away from home.

A story that will touch the heart of any animal lover, well written and from the heart.

[Liz Chapman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having watched the TV program of the Bionic cat which was moving and unforgettable , when I saw this book I had to read it. How could one cat have so many disasters in his short life and come through all the operations and still be loving and affectionate? Oscar is a very special cat that is for sure and Noel Fitzpatrick the vet whose pioneering surgery gave him his prosthetic back feet quite astounding. Just as Kate Allan thought she had finished her book another disaster strikes and Oscar has broken one of his prosthetic feet. Kate has to re write the last chapter to explain the terrible decision they have to make whether to put Oscar through another operation or put him to sleep. THEN THE BOOK ENDS! I tried google but I cannot find out what happened to Oscar. Anyone out there know what happened ?? Now I need to hug my cat Dolly .

[Tahlia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is an interesting read but it wasn't anything like I thought it would be.
I couldnt believe that the owners had their cats get hit by cars 3 times and still allowed them to go freely outside despite the dangers. After those times, they were told to put a harness on Oscar and take him for walks instead of letting him go outside freely because he was quite prone to getting hit by cars. But they gave up with it because he didn't like it and let him go outside. On that particular day the field nearby was being harvested and he ended up with his two legs cut off by a harvesting machine. So it was really sad to read especially since it ended with the owners thinking they would put Oscar down rather than have a really expensive operation but it was never said what actually happened to him in the end.
But I still rated this book 3 stars because it was a good story.

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, and finding out more about Oscar's story. I had seen footage before of him walking on his new feet, I think on a morning program. So as soon as I saw this book for sale I knew I had to own it. I always enjoy reading animal biographies, especially cats. I own five animals total, three dogs and two cats, but Ivan my cat has always held that position most people's first born hold.

My only surprise was the negative ending. Everything seemed to be going so well, and then this? I wish readers were told more, it resulted in a frantic Google search as to what was happening. I hope Oscar lives a full life from now on, the best he possibly can. A sad book, not for the fainthearted, but really well written at the same time. Four stars!

[Katrina Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oscar : The Bionic Cat by Kate Allan

I stared reading this book after my dad had brought me a copy home a signed copy, Thank-you to Kate for signing it. I love cats and started reading it right away. I found all the cats Buzz, Lou, poppy and Oscar to have great characters and with every page I could just feel how special Oscar is, and how when faced with such huge life choice's for him his owners did every thing in their Power. I thought the book also had some funny Parts and without a doubt you go on an emotional journey.

I really enjoyed reading about Oscars journey. I think this is a great read for anyone and very well written.
The book is a huge Credit to the author and Oscar.

[Liz Kaufman · Rating 1 out of 5]

The attitude of the author disgusts me. To consider not being able to let him outside a reason to have your cat put down is horrific. As an owner of indoor house cats all my life, I am appalled. About the writing itself, it wasn't gripping, had lots of rambling about the minutia of the author's everyday life that wasn't made interesting enough for me to care about it, and left me feeling rather blah.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book.. It's about a little cat that somehow got tangled up with a combine harvester and lost his hind legs.. it is about the story of his journey and getting prosthetic legs and life thereafter.

Must read.

[Jane Riker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a moving story - although I looked like a lunatic reading this on the train ... shaking with laughter one moment and sniffing back tears the next. This will strike a chord with anyone who has ever dreaded anything happening to their furry friend.

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am a huge fan of The Supervet, I just had to pick up a book about perhaps Noel's most famous patient. I am so glad I did as this story is heartwarming, heartbreaking and humbling. This book shows if the right people are involved and you are full of hope and love, amazing things can happen

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting read

[Weasel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read about a sweet cat and his family and the many issues faced.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely, brave cat. Though I did have to check whether he survived or not half way through reading as I couldn't have continued if he hadn't.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it lovely looking in to Oscars life, he is one lucky cat! Great book for all cat lovers, it was a very quick read for me but one that I enjoyed a lot.