The Cat Who Came in from the Cold: A Fable

by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

The New York Times bestselling author of The Nine Emotional Lives of Cats and Dogs Never Lie About Love, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson has given cat lovers a wonderful gift: a magical holiday story about a feline named Billi who long ago in ancient India becomes the first cat to choose domestication.

Cats relish independence and Billi is no exception. He wanders through the Indian countryside among other animals, enjoying a sense of freedom, belonging to nobody. The holidays approach, Diwali, the Festival of Lights; the monsoon season, when the skies go pitch dark and the rains come, has arrived. At a time when everyone is eager to be home with family and friends, Billi is alone--and lonely.

Walking into a village, Billi gazes through windows and sees a cozy fire, a content dog, and a happy family with children. Inspired, an untamed soul begins the transformative journey to a new life of warmth and togetherness in a world of interconnectedness. With his inimitable storytelling gifts and his unparalleled ability to penetrate the feline psyche, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson captures Billi's inner world, his aloofness, mischievousness, and ultimately his new perspective on the deep connection shared by humans and their feline friends.

Genres: Fiction, Animals, Cats, Audiobook

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

He has written several books books critical of psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and psychiatry as well as books on animals, their emotions and their rights.

He currently lives in New Zealand with his wife, two sons, three cats and three rats.

Reviews

[Shaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an incredible book. When I finished my shower this morning, there was still twenty minutes left of the book. I just had to hear the end so I just sat there in the bathroom listening. I can't remember the last time I did that. Of course, then I had a cheeseburger for breakfast, so it's not like I actually learned anything... but still, awesome story!

[Saga · Rating 4 out of 5]

den här boken var som en kram!!

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is subtitled a fable. Aesop would never recognize it. The book drags on cataloging the various sins humans commit against animals of all sorts. It is a nice explanation of how cats alone among animals have a more equal relationship with humans, where often cats rule the roost. However, the word fable is accurate in that it is a story with a meaning and purpose to it. It shows how hypocritical humans can be in their relationships with animals and how they claim to treat animals well and often do not. Modern agriculture is a flagrant example of how cruelly we can treat animals. I believe I was given this little book when I left Balboa Branch. I'm trying to clean my house up and I happened to notice a number of books that I have never read. So this is the first of that lot of books. I now have a tiny bit more room on my shelves. I'll pass the book on to a library book sale where perhaps someone will read it and think about being kinder to animals. Especially cats of course!

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thousands of years ago, somewhere in India, a young male cat was the first of his kind to choose to live with humans. This is his story. A very sweet little tale -- I'd definitely recommend it to any cat lover.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. It was a short, quick read. If you want to learn something about the Jainism religion, then it's worthwhile. Otherwise, I would pass.

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes you question having animals as pets and not allowing them to r o a m free

[Putri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ketika membaca halaman pertama, saya tahu kalau saya jatuh cinta.
Buku ini mengingatkan saya pada kenangan masa lalu waktu membaca fable di majalah bobo atau ketika ibu saya mendongeng cerita kancil.
Dan sungguh saya tidak bisa berhenti membacanya dan saya hanya butuh waktu kurang dari 24 jam untuk menyelesaikan buku ini.
Buku ini sangat captivated karena setidaknya saya bisa melihat diri saya sebagai manusia dari sudut pandang binatang.
Cukup akurat mungkin.
Dan karena ditulis dengan latar belakang kehidupan India yang sangat multikultural dan penuh dengan epik, membuat saya tidak bisa memalingkan mata.
Dan sungguh saya jatuh cinta pada buku ini.
Apa mungkin karena saya terlalu melankolis yah?

Dan ini review saya:

Billi, dari bahasa sansekerta yang artinya kucing, adalah seekor kucing asia berwarna hitam pekat yang sangat eksotik yang tinggal di pedalaman india beberapa ratus tahun yang lalu.
Kucing (pada saat itu), adalah binatang yang sangat mandiri, anti social dan terkadang terkesan sombong.
Dan Billi lebih memilih untuk mati ketimbang menjadi kucing peliharaan.
Billi tertarik untuk mengenal manusia lebih dekat lagi. Dan dimulailah petualangan Billi dari satu desa ke desa yang lain mencari binatang peliharaan manusia sebagai nara sumber bagi Billi tentang manusia.
Tapi tak satupun jawaban mereka membuat Billi puas bahkan Billi semakin skeptis.
Tapi pada akhirnya Billi menemukan jawaban pertanyaannya pada anak perempuan bernama Andini.
Dan persahabatan Andini dan Billi merupakan awal dari persahabatan antara kucing dan manusia di masa kini.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading/listening to this book about how the first cats in India became domesticated! Hope whoever else reads will also enjoy reading it, too!

[Aimee Linder · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading several long, emotionally draining books, I needed something light and well, just very different. I've always thought of myself as a Buddhist in a way. Not all ways of course, and I certainly don't practice as one. Mostly, I just feel that all living things, but mostly animals, should be treated with love and respect always. This book, while mostly light-hearted and short, taught me a few things about the relationship between animals and humans. RIGHT up my alley! I also love cats so it helps that the main character is a cat and the book is written from his point of view. Super read!

[Schmacko · Rating 2 out of 5]

This short tale of the domestication of India’s first housecat culls a lot from Hindu, Buddhist and Sanskrit folklore. It even borrows the tone. The problem is that the legends and myths may be well-known to the people of India, but they are incredibly obscure to the casual American reader. I believe I know a bit more about world religions than the average doofus (I consider myself an educated doofus), and even I got a little lost.

This, however, is the perfect little gift for your Hindu, book-loving friend who also loves housecats. Do you know someone it’s perfect for? Most people, I suspect, don’t.

[Tita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprei este livro sem saber nada sobre ele mas, infelizmente, não me conquistou como gostaria.
É narrado por um gato selvagem, o Billi, que tenta fugir do contacto dos humanos. Gostei muito da parte inicial, em que temos Billi e a sua mãe, e da parte final, onde mostra como se torna um gato domesticado, mas o meio, confesso, que o meio foi algo secante. Nesta parte, Billi parte numa viagem onde se cruza com vários animais e todos eles têm uma visão algo negativa dos humanos.

Vejam a minha opinião mais detalhada em vídeo, AQUI.

[Catsalive · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely delightful. A fable about the first wild cat to want to make a home among humans in ancient India, but definitely on his own terms & without confinement.

It does have some telling points about the hypocrisy of some idealistic-sounding religions, where not killing animals doesn't necessarily mean looking after them. Billi has hopes for humanity, however: "Yes, many humans are deeply hypocritical, but perhaps one of these centuries they will learn to practice what they preach. Ahimsa [belief in harming no living being, animal or human] may become reality yet."

[Mo Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story about a cat and how the author subtly portrays human ignorance and cruelty toward animals. While reading, the cynical part of me kept thinking, "Yes, humanity should disappear for the sake of the earth."

Anyway, I appreciated learning about Hinduism and experiencing different animals' perspectives.
I found the story engaging right up until the ending—I didn't like the cat's final decision about domestication.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting story about a wildcat seeking to find his purpose, perhaps to become a pet of humans. It was not known to be the case for cats yet.
The author takes the reader on a journey that is enlightening and fun.

[Mandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a simple story. I think it's trying to help enlighten humans of their hypocrisy, but out falls short in that regard. It did educate a bit about Indian religions though.

[Schnu · Rating 2 out of 5]

confusing and sad

[Roseby Valencia · Rating 3 out of 5]

😊

[Jenny]

3.5 ish

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute story about how the first wild cat decided to become domesticated.

[KEVIN NOSBUSCH · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5.0
Fun little story. Kids would love it.

[Samantha Stambaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Review to come soon!

[June Ahern · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most enjoyable mostly sweet fable about Billi, an Asian leopard cat, living in a mango forest in ancient India long, long ago. I truly love animal and stories, such as this, where the animal gives her or his view of life and humans - two legged ones.

I listened to this on CD and truly loved the storyteller. Although a sweet sentimental tale, the author, Masson presents the view from animals about the cruelty and attitude people have or had about animals. Those parts were difficult to hear. But quickly the story moves on because the wild cat Billi is an adventurous optimistic fellow in search of company.

His mother left one day and never returned. He missed her purr most of all and to survive and find a place to belong he embarks on a journey into meeting other animals, viewing children playing with a dog and suffering (not long this cat!) fearful and cruel actions and superstitious human beliefs about animals.

As much as Billi wants to be close to another living being, and that might include a human, he is independent and very cautious. He asks other animals on his journey about their experience. The book is not without humor: Billi tells a cow how humans worship him. The cow replies (the storyteller is great w/these voices) "Oh, great, that and five rupees will get you a chapati."

Now we know how cats became domesticated - well how they let us serve them! All "cat" people will get that.

I think I'll share this story with my grandchildren - deciding to read to them or listen to the CD because I don't believe I could beat the storyteller's character voices.

[Libscigrl · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Cat Who Came In From The Cold is a fable; a fairy tale about Billi, an Asian Leopard cat who is the first wild cat to chose to be domesticated. Unlike dogs, who love being around humans and other animals, cats are solitary and fear many other animals. It takes place in India, and touches on the hypocrisy of how animals are portrayed in different religions. The word billi means cat in Hindi.

Billi frequently sees young children and a dog pass under his favorite branch in his favorite mango grove. One day, he strikes up a conversation with the dog about living with humans. Billi remembers stories his mother told him as a kitten of being around humans, and he has never been able to let go of his curiosity. He goes on a discovery journey to find out how other animals feel about humans. His knowledge and curiosity finally get the best of him, and when the time is perfect, Billi inserts himself into the human world in a very brave and beautiful way.

This is a beautiful story, very quick read, great for kids as well. It warms my heart to have this in my head now as to how my own cats have come to honor me with their presence. The end of this story touched me personally as well, given the experience I have had with my own cats caring for me when I was battling cancer and chemotherapy. <3

[Carine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Moussaieff presents to us a beautiful fable about the first cat that accepted to be domesticated. The story takes place in India. I admit I don't know whether the fable has historical roots or not, and whether the fable is peculiar to India alone.

Although some of the cat's observations ring true (humans' prejudices against some animals, the hypocrisy of some humans), the generalization around humans' hypocrisy and evil is bothering. All along, humans are described as evil, self-interested persons who can't bother more for animals. Never is there any allusion that the fable probably takes place in another time past, or that the cat, who hopes for humans to cling to their pledge not to eat animals, himself needs to eat fish or mice to survive.

The fable ends happily, with the cat being welcomed in a loving, human family. Yet it is too bad that so much focus is put on humans not being able to understand animals, nor to care for them. This certainly isn't the case nowadays.

[Veronika Veverková · Rating 4 out of 5]

Krátký, ale moc hezký a poučný příběh o první kočce, resp. kocourovi Billí, který se rozhodl žít s lidmi. Tomuto soužití předchází jeho skoro roční procházení jižní Indie (třemi oblastmi, ovlivněnými různými náboženstvími, která hlásají, že se mají ke zvířatům chovat s úctou), kdy si povídá se zvířaty, kteří mají něco společného s lidmi. Žádné zvíře není z lidí nadšeno, naopak o nich mluví dost kriticky, a upřímně – mají ve všem pravdu (i já se mnohdy cítila vinna). Lidé spoustu zvířat využívají jen ke svému prospěchu a ani se jim za to neodvděčí. A to i přes ta velkorysá náboženská hlásání. To každého donutí zpytovat svědomí nebo se alespoň nad tím zamyslet.
O to víc je dojemný konec, kdy se k Billímu lidé chovají hezky, ale zároveň respektují jeho nezávislost. Jde tak o první zvíře, které žije s lidmi tak, aby byly obě strany úplně spokojené. To se stalo před tisíci let, přesto se lidské pokrytectví nezměnilo, vlastně je možná ještě horší. A pak že jsou kočky falešné a proradné.

[Tânia M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leitura rápida, de apenas algumas horas, mas que nos leva a pensar e reflectir bastante sobre a maneira como o "ser" humano vê os animais e como colocamos o nosso bem estar a cima do deles, quando na realidade todos nós deveríamos viver de igual forma. Igualdade de oportunidades, respeito entre espécies, amor ao próximo e compaixão, algo que continua, infelizmente a fazer muita falta neste mundo.

Billi é um gato maravilhoso, curioso e "perguntador", — como de resto todos os gatos são—, consegui reconhecer todos os meus gatos em cada palavra sua. Acompanhamo-lo numa jornada de descoberta, numa fábula fantástica, de um gato à procura de um mundo novo em que humanos e animais vivem juntos, sem pedir nada em troca, apenas amor e companheirismo. Sem dúvida uma bela surpresa.

[Thebruce1314 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really thought that this story was trying too hard to be deep and meaningful. Billi, a cat who lived in India "thousands of years ago", decides that he is tired of living on his own, and undertakes a great journey to learn what it would be like to live with the "two-footed." He learns along the way that humans are not always as kind to animals as they could be, and yet...he is still curious.

It was an easy, very short read, but I found it kind of annoying that all of the animals Billi met along the way had some pearl of wisdom to share with him - they seemed forced and the story didn't flow very smoothly for me. It was ok - not great.

[Marlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm listening (as always) and so far it's been a delight. After finishing this short novel it's sortof ok. It's different, I had to double check to see that it wasn't a Lillian Jackson Braun book. It's set in India, a wild cat's perspective of humankind. Quite the PETA brand of book, humans are so mean to animals. That's why we all have dogs that adore, cats that rule, etc. It's ok, very much off my beaten path.

[Kani · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read this author before, and loved the perspective of the cat. yes, he most likely was anthropomorphizing, but so did aesop, to make a point. the same is true here. he uses billi to make a point about isolation and connection, true for cats as well as humans so it seems. as a cat owner and lover myself, i was charmed, amused, educated & entertained! all good!

[Mira15 · Rating 4 out of 5]

"O Gato que Veio do Frio" é um livro simples, leve e, no entanto, fascinante que aborda as aventuras e desventuras do primeiro gato domesticado na Índia. A narrativa desenrola-se pela sua história pessoal e uma viagem que o marcará para sempre.

(Opinião completa)