Cat People to Judge in Art and Life

by Nicole Tersigni

From the author of the hit humor book Men to Avoid in Art and Life comes this tongue-in-cheek collection of cats' innermost thoughts. ​Cat people love their cats deeply . . . maybe a little too deeply. Cats, on the other hand, secretly hate our haircuts but tolerate our presence because we have the thumbs to open the food can. Against the backdrop of fine art, bestselling author Nicole Tersigni delves into the minds of our feline companions and the people who serve them.Broken into five sections representing all kinds of cat people, including the Smotherer, the Oversharer, the Pushover, the Proud Parent, and the Roommate, this hilariously insightful cat humor book says the things our loved ones can’t—that Mewlius Caesar would enjoy us more if we gave them some space. And a better name. BESTSELLING Nicole Tersigni broke the Internet with her first book, the hit success Men to Avoid in Art and Life, based on her hysterical Twitter feed. After following up with the whip-smart celebration of female friendships, Friends to Keep in Art and Life, and the biting Parenting Advice to Ignore in Art and Life, Tersigni is back with an offering for cat lovers!A HILARIOUS GIFT FOR CAT PEOPLE OF ALL No matter if you’re gifting for the cat lover in your life or purchasing for yourself, there’s something in here for everybody—from the casual cat owner to the fanatic cat parent.RELATABLE  We all get a little obsessed with our pets! Tersigni takes the most relatable parts of being a cat owner and turns them into laugh-out-loud jokes that will have you saying, “Same.”Perfect owners and loversFans of snarky humorGift-giving for birthdays, holidays, or pet adoption celebrationsReaders who loved Men to Avoid in Art and Life, Friends to Keep in Art and Life, and Parenting Advice to Ignore in Art and Life

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Art, Graphic Novels, Cats, Adult

96 pages, Hardcover

Published September 3, 2024

About the author

Nicole is a comedic writer and author of the bestselling humor book, Men to Avoid in Art and Life, and its follow up, Friends to Keep in Art and Life. She lives in Metro Detroit with her husband, daughter, and dog.

Reviews

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hysterically funny quotes and classic art with cats will make every feline lover guffaw in recognition. Recommended!

[Alisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun combo of classic artwork and snarky cat/human dialogue. It's really easy to just page through it, and I snorted with laughter at a couple of the panels. Anyone who lives with a cat will relate.

Thanks to Chronicle Books and Netgalley for this digital review copy!

[Ivonne Rovira]

Nicole Tersigni, the genius behind Men to Avoid in Art and Life, has written another laugh-out-loud book, to be released just in time to torture J.D. Vance, Ohio senator, vice presidential candidate and weirdo scourge of spinster cat ladies everywhere.

As Tersigni writes: “A Cat Person is someone who would do anything in their power to make a comfortable home for a companion who pays you back in mouse heads.” As the title suggests, we meet all types of cat lovers: smotherers, pushovers, proud parents (to “fur babies,” of course) and more. Tersigni ensures that each category is elucidated in the most hilarious way possible — accompanied by wonderful art. Don’t overlook this gem.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Chronicle Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the fourth book by the author placing funny captions on works of art. The focus on this one is paintings with cats, often focusing on what the cat may be thinking or saying. I can see this as a gift for cat lovers or a funny book to check out from a library. It reads quickly and doesn’t cause you to think too deeply. I love art and that was one of the main draws for me. The humor was very hit or miss. I appreciate that there is a listing of many of the art titles, artists and museums in the ending credits. And several of the paintings seem to be in the public domain. Thank you to Chronicle Books for the temporary ARC and I am leaving an honest review.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another in the line of "Art and Life" humor books from Nicole Tersigni. Loved the combo of captions and art used (particularly when the art is not "focused" on the cat, the cat is just there). Also the strikethrough in the title, haha.

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously snarky. Just imagine cat memes as art, as in real art with cats. Tore through this laughing out loud so many times. Loved it!
Thanks to netgalley you for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sarah AF · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am equal parts charmed by the haughty, distant-yet-demanding kitties and endeared to the overbearing, devoted owners knowing fully well that I would be one.

God, I want a cat.

[Katie Cull · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was drawn to this book by its title, and being a self-proclaimed cat person, I found it thoroughly entertaining and funny! While some pages are funnier than others, overall, I feel the author humorously captured the voice of a sassy, judgmental cat. True cat people will appreciate the humor. It would make a delightful gift for fellow feline enthusiasts. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this book!

[Callie Walker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excuse me while I go decorate my house exclusively with cat Art. I loved the collection of Art and thought the captions were funny and relatable.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC from Netgalley.com.

As with Nicole's other books this one is a fun look at art with a dash of humor. I am not a cat person but I have friends who are and these remind me of stories I have heard from them over the years. Several were laugh out loud even for me. This is a perfect gift book for those cat people out there.

[Tiffany {Beyond the Stars Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so cute! It made me laugh out loud multiple times. I think I’ve said some of these things to my cats… (and they’ve probably thought some of the replies back.)

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this in Barnes and Noble and thought it was so funny. The snarky, witty, and sarcastic statements made by the cats are hysterical plus the artwork. I laughed out loud.

[Louie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Snarkily hilarious.

[Hannah Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This short and sweet book was a perfect mix of humor and art. I loved the author’s ability to take these serious work of art and putting a fun spin on them.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Chronicle Books for sending me this ebook for review consideration.

[Sidney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am not sure I was the targeted audience for this book. Initially, I thought it sounded interesting. I love art and I love cats, what better book could there be that addressed both of these things all at once?

However, this was a very mundane read for me. The quips were lacking for me, and I felt that I was rolling my eyes a bit at it. The jokes were not original or unique...easily something you can find posted anywhere on the internet to generically describe "being a cat" or "having a cat". I had expectations that if you are going to put a collection together such as this, you'd have original content, but that is not what I received.

Additionally, much of it was repetitive. How many times are we going to crack a "Meowy Cyrus" joke in this single book, of one theme, with so few words?

I suppose the Boomer & Gen X generations might give a laugh or chuckle, but anyone after those generations likely will find this to be boring and unoriginal. However, it wasn't absolute torture, but I didn't even slightly laugh or even smirk while making my way through this.

For those reasons, it's a 2/5 stars for me. Thank you NetGallery for the opportunity to be an early reader of this.

[Kris · Rating 3 out of 5]

For cat lovers and classic art lovers – even more so if you are both. Nicole Tersigni amusingly adds imagined cat commentary to classic artwork, and she perfectly captures cat attitude on every page. For me, this book was not as laugh-out-loud funny as other reviews suggested it would be. Most of the pages I found myself nodding and smiling [and thinking: yes, that’s very true!] with an occasional audible chuckle. I read this through once and enjoyed the commentary; then I read it a second time to really appreciate the artwork. I read this as an e-ARC and I believe I would have enjoyed the hard cover version of this book much more. A small screen is just not a good medium for consuming art. And that is why I would absolutely buy a physical copy as a gift for any cat owner/lover. It’s a quick, amusing read, and it’s fun to see (and realize) how often cats show up in classic artwork.
My thanks to Nicole Terisgni, NetGalley and Chronicle Books, for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

[Lagoonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I saw "cat lady" in the description and immediately had to pick it up. As someone who currently has 5 house cats, I thought this would be exactly up my alley. It has cats, it has quips, it has art. However, the actual "humor" fell short for me. I think this is geared more toward Gen X or Boomer cat lovers. It wasn't bad, just nothing original. There wasn't a single line that I had never heard before, and none of it garnered even a huff of air or chuckle from me. Many of the lines felt out of place, or even forced in relation to the chosen paintings they were narrating. I don't think I would recommend this to anyone under the age of 40, or anyone who's been exposed to the internet's oversaturation of cat related humor.
*ARC Review

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cats are beautiful, mysterious, venerated creatures. They choose us, entertain us, and make us better. And all they ask in return is that we feed them, clean up after them, play with them, let them knock all our stuff onto the floor, leave the bathroom door open for them, and worship their every move. No wonder they have been celebrated in fine art for centuries.

And now bestselling author Nicole Tersigni (Men to Avoid in Life and Art) has combed through art collections to find paintings with cats and uses them to give cats a voice. So when we’re saying, “My friends asked if I want to see a movie, but I told them I’m too busy snuggling with you,” the cat is thinking, “What friends?”

When we’re saying, “My cat is always grooming me because she loves me,” the cat is thinking, “No. I do it because you clearly don’t know how.” When we’re saying, “I guess I’ll cancel my plans for the rest of the day,” the cat is thinking, “You’re awfully chatty for a chair.”

Cat People to Judge in Art and Life looks specifically at five types of cat parents: The Smotherer, The Oversharer, The Pushover, The Proud Parent, and The Roommate. And as these types of cat parents are paired with classic paintings, the pictures and captions tell a true story of what it’s like to own a cat. For example, in a painting where a woman is sitting and reading as a cat watches her, she says, “This is my reading time. You have to respect my boundaries if this is going to work.” So the cat replies, “My boundaries are ‘Feed me now.’”

I loved Cat People to Judge in Art and Life. I grew up with dogs and didn’t get to experience the joy of living with a cat until I was well into adulthood. But I have come to embrace it fully, from the sweet snuggles to the occasional scratches or love bites, from the catnip highs to the litter box lows. And as I read through these pages, I found myself laughing out loud, a lot. Author Tersigni clearly understands life with a cat, and she has found a unique way of translating the cat life into bite-sized moments that are beautifully illustrated and insightfully funny. This is a perfect gift book for any cat lover with a sense of humor, but if you gift it to a cat, they’ll probably just knock it off the table onto the floor.

Egalleys for Cat People to Judge in Art and Life were provided by Chronicle Books, with many thanks.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Chronicle Books for the eARC of this book. It drops tomorrow on September 3rd!! All opinions are my own.

“Cat People…” follows a very simple, but funny premise. Tersigni uses real fine art pieces overlayed with captions of a person talking to their cat and the cat’s snarky response. You can visit the author’s instagram account to get a good idea at her style. It’s very of the “Internet age” and “memey.” Is that a word? 🤷🏻‍♀️

I was delighted throughout. This is perfect for your coffee table to give your guests a good chuckle. It would also make a great gift. You know when you and your friends hit that age when you stop knowing what to get anyone without an explicit list, because everyone has enough money to get their own stuff. If they like cats, get them this book. If they are dog people, then I’m not sure what to tell you.

[Mollified.Moments · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a proud cat enthusiast and someone who works in the art industry, "Cat People: To Judge in Art and Life" had me laughing out loud with its charming images! The book manages to capture the essence of being humorously judged while celebrating our love for feline companions. It's a must-have for my coffee table once published, blending art and humor in a way that we all need more of. The creative and amusing pairings of cat-themed artworks and text are both clever and entertaining, and the comprehensive index of art credits at the end is a delightful touch. This book would make an ideal gift for any cat lover. Highly recommended!

Thank you to #NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an #ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this advanced reader's copy. This book is perfect for cat lovers like me. I laughed out loud at some of the pictures. The author found all kinds of paintings of people with their cats and added little hilarious sayings or conversations with them that had me giggling and laughing that you could definitely see some of the characters in the paintings actually having with their cats. And I may have had with MY cat a time or two :) Especially, the one about having to cancel my plans because there was a cat on my lap. (As that is a sacred rule). Loved this book and was not familiar with this author, but I will now need to check out this author's previous books about the men and children.

[Tess Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a perfect living room or vet office book for cat and art lovers alike. The pairing of funny quotes and images was often clever and worth a chuckle. However, I think this could be a one and done read.

I can see myself purchasing this for my grandfather-whom loves cats dearly- and him enjoying it many reads through.

I would say that 95 percent of the art styles and portraits were European paintings from the 1700-1800s. I would have loved to see some ancient or 20th and 21st century depictions of cats and their owners. Perhaps some photography would be cool too.

I received this book from Net Galley/publisher in exchange for an honest review of my opinion.

[Libby Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Introduction to this book, Nicole Tersigni writes, "A Cat Person is someone who would do anything in their power to make a comfortable home for a companion who pays you back in mouse heads."

How true.

This book celebrates and Cat People and their furry companions through classic art looking at all the Cat Person stereotypes: the Smotherer, the Oversharer, the Pushover, the Proud Parent, and the Roommate. This reviewer is a mixture of all of these stereotypes, but my cats would most likely think of me as the Smotherer!

Many thanks to Abrams & Chronicle Books for providing my delightful review copy. As a Bookseller I would recommend this book to any Cat Person!

[Christina GT · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently purchased and very much enjoyed "Friends to Keep in Art and Life." When I saw the author had another book coming out, and it was about cats...I had to have it! I have this book pre-ordered and can't wait to receive it. While I was browsing Netgalley, I saw this book available and couldn't wait for a chance to read it. I had quite a few laugh-out-loud moments. I love the pieces of art that were picked for this book. This book would make an awesome gift for fellow cat lovers. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC!

[Queen Scrub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Do you like cats? Do you like art? Do you like sarcastic rebuttals you know your cat would love to say to you? If you said yes, or no, to any of these, this is the book for you! With so much sass wrapped up in such a small package, Cat People to Judge in Art and Life is a majestic piece of storytelling that truly dives into the psyche of cats and their ladies.

This would be great as a gift for cat lovers, a coffee table book, a bathroom book, and/or fans of Nicole Tersigni's other works.

[Juniper Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat People to Judge in Art and Life is a goofy coffee table book. A good goofy! I liked the content quite a lot. I was expecting a book of memes (which yes, that is exactly what was pitched and what was delivered) but they were the same old cat memes I’ve seen online. Some of these memes made me laugh actually out loud, which was a nice refreshing surprise.
I will say, my expectations were for this book to be kind of “meh”, but I was ever so happy to be proven wrong!
I absolutely want to read the rest of the author’s backlist now.
Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for a review!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cat person, I can appreciate the humor that is Cat People to Judge in Art and Life.

From the introduction you can tell Nicole Tersigni is a cat person. Anyone who is can relate.

Some of the works were laugh out loud funny, others got a good chuckle, and a few missed the mark (for me) but I can appreciate the sentiment.

Perfect gift for a cat lover in your life.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced cope of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book takes classic works of art and adds in snarky and humourous human and cat captions. The author did an amazing job matching the artwork to the captions. There were several that were very funny and some that I didn't quite relate to personally. That being said, there's something for every cat owner in this book that would leave them snickering. Just FYI, I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review of the book.

[Katrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cats, I love art, and I loved this little humor book. This would make a perfect gift for your favorite cat person. As an art lover, I loved all of the cat-featuring artworks and appreciated the index of art credits at the end. The art and text pairings are hilarious and inventive.

Thank you to Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the advance reader's digital copy. #CatPeopletoJudgeinArtandLife #NetGalley

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a silly delight! As an obvious cat lady, I laughed out loud at so many of the images! I feel both seen and judged! This will certainly be a book I’ll pick up once published to have on my coffee table! We could all use more art and laughs!

Thank you NetGalley, Chronicle Books, and author Nicole Tersigni for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. “Cat People to Judge in Art and Life” is expected to be published September 3, 2024!