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Fur Babies: Why We Love Cats

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Deleted due to erroneous announcement and published under another ISBN. 9781844005536

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2007

1 person is currently reading
13 people want to read

About the author

Liz Jones

84 books8 followers
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

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5 stars
4 (9%)
4 stars
21 (47%)
3 stars
12 (27%)
2 stars
7 (15%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Profile Image for Graceann.
1,167 reviews
May 27, 2011
Liz Jones and several of her cat-loving celebrity friends share essays on that special bond between humans and le chat. Having always had a feline in my life, and often preferring the feline in my life to most of the people I've met, this was a natural for me.

Celia Hammond discusses how her rescue work began, and Catherine Tate tells the story of how the cat she adopted with a bit of ambivalence is now irreplaceable in her, and her family's, life. There are poems and adorable drawings, and of course sad stories too. Part of the bargain we make when we choose to love our fur babies is knowing that they will, in all likelihood, leave before we do.

One thing about it that irritated me was the terrible situations that the cats were allowed to get into, simply because they are allowed to roam all about the neighborhood. Cats come home with abscesses, get locked into backyard playhouses, or don't come home at all because of this idiotic notion that they need to get outdoors and wander. Spike is never allowed out of the house unless he's on a lead or in my arms. He's never pined for it and never suffered for it; on the contrary, he's coming up on his 15th birthday as of this writing, and his chronic kidney disease is due to age, not to an encounter with a speeding car. He's an example from which other guardians could benefit.
Profile Image for Nux.
136 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2009
Would have given this five stars if not for Liz Jones' rants about people who love their human babies more than their cats. What's wrong with loving your human babies AND your cats?!
I think it's just fair that the more vulnerable one gets a "special" treatment, at least until they are equal in weight, strength and immunity system. So I will swat my cats and make sure that they won't put their bums on the plate where I'm going to put my baby's food and also I will make sure that my 6 kg cat is not going to sleep on the same crib as my new born. When the baby's old enough to defend for herself, then it'd be each for their own, I'll just sit back and watch - this is all theoretical, however, to be put in practice when I have a baby of my own.
But otherwise, apart from that rant that I have to vent out, I love this collection. :)
Profile Image for Breeana.
43 reviews4 followers
Want to read
August 20, 2015
This book is ridiculous.
This Liz Jones is just an angry bitter old lady.
Who has nothing nice to say about anyone,who doesn't treat their cat like a human. then takes the piss out of all humans. More pointedly mothers and their children.
Her writing comes across as jaded and bitter and seems to think all mothers somehow dislike their children and having fur babies is much more rewarding. Liz Jones you are clueless. And completely annoying.
I will never attempt to read this book again.
Profile Image for Lara Calleja.
Author 16 books56 followers
April 14, 2023
This book was surprisingly heart warming. Well, the intro to the book by Liz Jones is a clear cut example of a person who dumps her resentment towards her past relationships by over compensating words towards her cats and a pretty angry tone towards humanity in general.

The rest of the contributing cat stories by prominent famous artists were such a good, heart warming read though and really shows how our cat companions can really bring out the best side of us.

Worth a read!
Profile Image for Jan.
682 reviews1 follower
January 31, 2019
Lets face it, if you pick up this book you are already aware of the appeal of cats, but its always nice to read a cute story or two.

A quick, easy, uplifting read for when you don't want to think too much!
Profile Image for Rhian.
Author 11 books38 followers
December 10, 2017
Some of the stories and poems are utterly delightful, but the introduction left me worrying about Liz Jones, who seems unhealthily self-obsessed.
Profile Image for Chloe.
11 reviews
February 25, 2020
A collection of stories from various celebrities about their cats and why they love them, with a short guide to caring for your cat and feline body language at the end.
Profile Image for Jonna.
159 reviews2 followers
April 27, 2020
Unbalaced, from very light to touching. Laughed. OK book, but l:ll swap it.
Profile Image for Anne.
2,451 reviews1,168 followers
October 15, 2011
Liz Jones is a journalist, probably best know for her column about being single that was in the Sunday Times. She has also been a columnist for The Guardian and The Mail's You Magazine.
Liz Jones can be incredibly cutting and sarcastic, especially when talking about her ex-husband, but she is also very honest and very very funny. It is clear that Liz adores her fur babies and this book would be the perfect gift for any cat lover, especially as proceeds from the sale of the book go to the Celia Hammond Animal Trust.
The books starts with Liz introducing each of her cats, how they came to live with her, their individual characteristics and quirks and how they got their names. Throughout the book their are contributions from other famous cat lovers including Catherine Tate (whose story is a little stomach churning) and Audrey Niffenegger (whose story is very very odd!).
A perfect 'dipping into' book, with gorgeous illustrations.
Profile Image for Xanthi.
1,650 reviews16 followers
March 2, 2012
I loved this book. Written by a true cat lover. I enjoyed the stories from the various contributors and their photos of their cats. I especially loved the parts about Liz Jones's cats, and the story about the famous literary (and real) cat 'Mog' by Judith Kerr.

I love the cat welfare and rescue message that runs through most of this book, and that part proceeds went to a cat rescue group.
Profile Image for Lisa.
58 reviews1 follower
December 10, 2011
Lovely to read about others and their fur familys...
Profile Image for Julie Thomason.
Author 3 books18 followers
January 27, 2014
I have had several cats in my life; it was nice to read other people's experiences with our feline friends. I also learned new things about cat behaviour, it is always good to learn something new.
Profile Image for Hannora.
15 reviews1 follower
Currently reading
May 25, 2012
25 THINGS TO MAKE YOU CAT LOVE YOU- tick tick tick tick x25!!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews

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