Swamp Cat

by Jim Kjelgaard

An outstanding writer about the outdoors gives us two heroes in this fascinating book. One is a young boy who lives alone most happily on the edge of a swamp, earning his living from it. The other is, astonishingly, a black house cat. At least, Frosty started off as a city kitten, but by the time he proves his ability to survive the perils of the swamp wilderness and decides to share the boy's cabin with him, he is as much a part of his rugged environment as the deer, the horned owls, and the muskrats.
The boy decides to stock the swamp with muskrats, without realizing that there are other enemies besides the predatory swamp creatures in this location where ancient family feuds have been allowed to hang on.
There is the very feel of the wild country in all its moods, death-dealing or life-giving, and a wonderful closeness to the sensitive feelings and seesaw development of a boy.
Edward Shenton's pictures are wonderful, as always.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Animal Fiction, Childrens, Cats

120 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1957

About the author

an American author of young adult literature.

Born in New York City, New York, Jim Kjelgaard is the author of more than forty novels, the most famous of which is 1945's "Big Red." It sold 225,000 copies by 1956 and was made into a 1962 Walt Disney film with the same title, Big Red. His books were primarily about dogs and wild animals, often with animal protagonists and told from the animal's point of view.

Jim Kjelgaard committed suicide in 1959, after suffering for several years from chronic pain and depression.
- Wikipedia -

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember Kjelgaard for his books about Irish Setters (Big Red, etc) and teenage boys learning be men.

This 1957 book is about a cat named Frosty, a young man who lives in a swamp, a bunch of wild critters, hillmen, townsmen, and muskrats.

Sounds weird, but it works. Frosty is just a kitten when we meet him, and he is about to be taken out to the swamp and left there. That is because the despicable Luke from the hills has a money making scheme: he gets paid to take unwanted puppies and kittens away from the people who live in town. No one ever stops to think what he might be doing with all those little pets, and the truth is he just leaves them to their fate. What does he care, once he has the money?!

But what he doesn't know is that Frosty is not your every day run of the mill cat. No, Frosty's mama may have been a pampered house kitty, but his daddy was the biggest, meanest wildest tom cat around. And Frosty was the perfect blend of the two. He was bigger and smarter and tougher than his two siblings. So he survived after Luke dumped them. And while Frosty learns about the thrills that come with living in a swamp, we get to have a peek into that unusual environment too.

When Andy meets Frosty (dramatic first encounters are always memorable!) a new and surprisingly loving partnership is born. Andy has a dream to turn his swampland into a muskrat farm. He buys and releases dozens of pairs of muskrat, then proceeds to protect them as best he can from the predators in the swamp, including that horrid Luke. Will he have to revive an old hill-family feud to keep that man away from his property?

How does Frosty help out? He always seems to be the cat on the spot, especially when Mr. Luke is around. Frosty has never forgotten him. And Frosty wants his revenge. Does he get it? Will the muskrats survive and thrive the way they do on paper when Andy dreams of the future?

Another unique Kjelgaard look at a part of the natural world that is probably long gone by now.

[Vern · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Kjelgaard (long deceased) wrote books for younger readers. He was my very first "favorite author" when I was about 12. He wrote mostly about dogs, primarily Irish Setters, and I read every single one. I have been re-reading his books over the last couple years simply for the sake of nostalgia. Swamp Cat is a book I had not read before. It is a story of a town cat that ends up in the deep swamps, becomes wild, and befriends a young trapper. Fun read, fast read, and actually well written. Not for everyone I suppose, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just happened to come across an audiobook of this story recently, when I needed something to listen to. What a great story! I’ve loved Jim Kjelgaard’s works for years; he does an excellent job capturing the hearts and temperaments of the animals he writes about and has an excellent grasp on people and what makes them tick. I also love his description of nature—you feel like you’re there when you’re reading his books.

This was a fascinating story. There was a bit of mystery, some danger, and a lot of adventure in this short book. It’s perfect for children who don’t mind seeing a little of the realities of life, and love a good animal story. It also has a fascinating theme of forgiveness vs. greediness—I enjoyed seeing how that worked out in the story. Overall, a great read. If I ever find a print copy, I’ll be picking it up!

[Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great adventure story following a cat and a young man trying to make a living raising muskrats in a swamp while an insidious poacher tries to trap them himself. Nothing particularly special but enjoyable for this genre.

[Sarah Bowling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book more than I expected to as I don’t usually like realistic fiction. It’s well written and you find yourself rooting for the main characters. I did find the ending rather abrupt though.

CC: animal deaths, animal cruelty

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story I recall enjoying back in junior high. A wonderful author of animal stories. Abrupt ending, but good riddance to the villain.

[Rosemary Nagy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was obsessed with this book as a child. And as an adult, it’s every bit as good as I remember.

[Diệu Hương · Rating 3 out of 5]

Khá là oke

[Michael Powers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a pleasure to go back and re-read a Jim Kjelgaard book!

[Sheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Jim Kjelgaard's stuff as a kid but it's the quirky non-dog ones I like best. I like Frosty, the cat of the title and I liked Andy. The ending is abrupt but worked for me.

[Norm S · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Jim Kjelgarrd books back in the 1960's while in jr. high. Loved his animal books. This one eluded me apparently the school library didn't have this one. So when I found it on kindle I gladly bought and downloaded it. When I started it and found that the swamp cat wasn't a Cougar, Bob Cat or lynx but a regular house cat I figured I'd probably be disappointed with this one. But gladly I was wrong, Frosty was quite a cat. It was a very good book the only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 the ending didn't quite finish the story at least not the way I thought it should. You'll have to judge for yourself.

[MERRY C. CAREY]

Wonderful story by a great writer

The friendship between a feral cat and the last remaining member of an old backcountry family who owns mostly swamp. He decides to try stocking it with muskrats but last remaining member of one of their oldest rival families, the man who left the kitten to die in a sack, decides to sabotage the venture by trapping them all before enough have bred.

[angela watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love his stories. I fell in love with frosty. I would have liked to know what happened at the end. I would gladly recommend this to any young person who enjoys animal stories and like myself believe animals are more human than anyone will admit

I have always loved his stories. I fell in love with frosty. I would have really liked to know what happened to Luke!! I would recommend this to anyone who like me believe animals are more human than we know

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only two quibbles about this delightful book: 1, It wasn't long enough, and 2, It wasn't the first in a series. I would have loved to read more about Frosty, the cat, and his human partner, Andy Gates. Luke Trull, the bad guy, gets exactly what he deserved.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Kjelgaard's dog stories best, but this is a pretty good story about a domesticated cat that becomes a wild swamp runner.

[Jim Pozenel · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Liked it"

I was surprised how much I really enjoyed this book. It is quite well written. I wish that I had known about this book when I was growing up.

[Lockc · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a well written book with a developed plot. I wish that I had known about this author when I was a child.

[Eveline Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another good book