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.
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. :)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.