Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats

by Ursula K. Le Guin

A purrpurri of the literary legend's quirky and winsome cat poems, mediations, and drawings

Includes the hard-to-find The Art of Bunditsu and other delights from a lifetime of reflection on the mystery and magic of cats

"The presence of a cat keeps me in touch with the mystery, the unreasonableness, the beauty, the stubborn wildness of the nonhuman world." In her life as in her art, Ursula K. Le Guin was fascinated by the feline. This irresistable little book gathers poems, mediations, and drawings dedicated to the complicated creature that her captured her imagination. Here

• The Art of Bunditsu, Le Guin's hard-to-find “tabbist” meditation on the arranging of cats
• Cat Poems, more than two dozen gems, many illustrated by Le Guin herself
• Supermouse Comix! Historic First Issue! Le Guin's one-of-a-kind cat comic book
• Cat a series of letters between Le Guin’s cat and those of her daughter detailing the Five Deliberations that cats spend their lives studying
• Cat Tai Chi, as depicted in a charming series of drawings

A must for cat lovers and Le Guin fans alike, this is the purr-fect literary companion for every reader.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, Cats, Essays, Animals, Art, Cozy

96 pages, Hardcover

Published October 7, 2025

About the author

Ursula K. Le Guin published twenty-two novels, eleven volumes of short stories, four collections of essays, twelve books for children, six volumes of poetry and four of translation, and has received many awards: Hugo, Nebula, National Book Award, PEN-Malamud, etc. Her recent publications include the novel Lavinia, an essay collection, Cheek by Jowl, and The Wild Girls. She lived in Portland, Oregon.

She was known for her treatment of gender (The Left Hand of Darkness, The Matter of Seggri), political systems (The Telling, The Dispossessed) and difference/otherness in any other form. Her interest in non-Western philosophies was reflected in works such as "Solitude" and The Telling but even more interesting are her imagined societies, often mixing traits extracted from her profound knowledge of anthropology acquired from growing up with her father, the famous anthropologist, Alfred Kroeber. The Hainish Cycle reflects the anthropologist's experience of immersing themselves in new strange cultures since most of their main characters and narrators (Le Guin favoured the first-person narration) are envoys from a humanitarian organization, the Ekumen, sent to investigate or ally themselves with the people of a different world and learn their ways.

Reviews

[Dan Trefethen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would not normally post a book as slight as this, but come on....it's Ursula K. Le Guin! It's cats! It's all the cats Ursula ever owned! Poems, drawings, imaginary correspondence between cats...how can you resist?

Ursula famously had a gentle and wry sense of humor, and it shows in many of these pieces about her cats. Interspersed are a few wistful remembrances of cats past (or passed).

Many of the pieces were previously published, but in such disparate sources that you might never have known how important cats were to her life (including her writing life), or how much pleasure (and annoyance) she had with her cats. The book closes with a complete list (a 'catography', if I may coin a term) of her cats through her life, with commentary of the attitudes of her children (tears often meant bringing another cat home) and her husband (a reluctant cat owner initially, but warmed up to them).

Thanks to Library of America for assembling this book and adding to their collection of Le Guin's work. It may be the slightest addition to that collection, but perhaps the most fun.

[DivaDiane SM · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is delightful. If you know and love cats, you will be tickled. Poetry, letters (from cats to other cats), comics, art. All of it whimsical, enlightened, deeply felt.

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely collection of poems, short writings, drawings and short comics about cats, and especially about the actual cats in her life, by Le Guin. Lots of brilliant gems. It includes a list and a short bio sketch of all the cats that have been known to be a part of Le Guin's life.

[Esther De Lira]

This is the cutest little collection of cat-themed poetry, letters, and illustrations; the perfect addition to my bookshelf. Thank you to my love, Danny, for the gift. <3 To be loved is to be known.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean, come on... utter purrfection.

[Kaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quirky collection of poems, drawings, comics, and, my favorite, "The Cat Letters."

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a special little book compiling one of the greatest literary minds’ love of cats ❤️ I was giggling and kicking my feet reading it, looking at the doodles and comics. Special mention to the letters between Zorro, Frederika and Opal

[Charty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of all things feline that celebrated author Ursula K. Le Guin left behind. A book that is full of poems, drawings, letters, a comic, and other cat-inspired whimsies. It’s obvious she lived closely with, and observed, many cats throughout her life. Enjoyable if rather sparse.

My favorite of the poems:

Nine Lines, August 9

The hold of evening is closing,
drawing in, tightening.
The light is losing. It is
a little frightening
how fast August goes.
Others have noticed this.
The cat on his concealed switchblade toes
comes by, and what he says
is silent, but enlightening.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet book, all cat and book lovers should read.

[Sanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“no verb for you
but be,
be old,
old furbones,
moth,
shadow.”

I just wanted to read a few poems before dinner, but then my cat climbed into my lap. You know how that goes. I love you, Ursula.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

An altogether charming review of Le Guin's life with her cats, told in sketches, doodles, photography, anecdotes, epistolary, and poetry.

Special highlights go to the final section with biographies of each cat and to the letters exchanged from Zorro to Fredi and Opal (via Elisabeth and Ursula.)

Lovely little read that doesn't shy from the highs and the unfortunate lows of being loved and loving our dearest feline companions.

[S A R A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a charming collection of Ursula le Guin’s personal writings, poems, drawings and correspondence about her beloved felines. It has a charming design, humorous insights, and has the ability to capture the "mystery, the unreasonableness, the beauty, the stubborn wildness of the nonhuman world" through cats, making it a treasured read for its lighthearted yet profound exploration of feline companions.

The letters between her cats, Frederika, Opal, and Zorro, and the depiction of "Cat Tai Chi" are by far my favorite parts of this book❤️

For cat enthusiasts, cat lovers, and cat whisperers🐈‍⬛

[Alexandra Meissner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je suis vraiment en train de tout lire ce que je peux de Le Guin en ce moment, mais c'est a travers ce livre que j'ai eu l'impression de plus la connaître. Entre réflexions et poésie, le livre est rempli de petits textes au sujet des chats dans sa vie. Certains poèmes m'ont vraiment émue, surtout quand c'est à propos de vieux chats 😭. J'ai aussi beaucoup aimé en apprendre plus sur les Délibérations et sur la conservation de la masse.

[Path Kittinat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book of cats เป็นหนังสือที่รวบรวมบทกลอน ภาพวาด และข้อเขียนเล็กๆน้อยๆ ที่ เออร์ซูล่า เค. เลอ กิน (Ursula K Le Guin) เขียนถึงแมวในชีวิตของเธอไว้ แล้วเราไม่ค่อยถนัดงานกลอนเลย โดยเฉพาะภาษาอังกฤษอีก อ่านน้อยมาก ทำให้อ่านไปก็ไม่ค่อยเข้าใจเท่าไร แต่ครับ เราสัมผัสถึงความรู้สึกที่คุณ Ursula มีต่อแมวตัวนั้นๆ ได้เลย แปลกดีเหมือนกัน

[Billy Marino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a lovely little book to pick up and read in little moments! The comics and drawings were so cute, and by the time you get to the little biographies at the end of all of Le Guin's various cats, many of them feel familiar from their poems and letters scattered throughout the short little collection.

I'd say this was a great background read for me, someone who has only just finally become acquainted with Le Guin's writing in the last year and a half or so.

[Ellie G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe Blue isn't naughty after all, and I'm merely failing to observe the Five Deliberations (Reserve, Ignoring, Warmth Asana, Placement, and Sameness, for ye unlearned) adequately?

Loved this more intimate glimpse into my favorite author's mind, and all the cats who loved her.

[Sue Dix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poetry, cartoons, letters, musings, drawings. This is what you will find inside this charming book all about cats. At the end of the book there is a section that describes, in chronological order, all of Ursula Le Guin’s feline companions. She was truly a lover of cats.

[Seth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could read about Ursula’s adoration of cats all day. I adore the illustrations. Great reading palette cleanser

[Rodolfo]

Cute little anthological read of famous author Ursula K. le Guin’s poems, comics and other texts on the cats she had throughout her life. As such, I don’t think it needs/warrants a rating

[yan ✦ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this felt so special i cried

[Ruth Malcolm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to dip in and out of. I really enjoyed The Cat Letters.

[lil · Rating 5 out of 5]

best enjoyed with a cat on your lap

[Lotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

innocent, mortal, the only hunter in my heart. ❤️

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I like cats and poetry and art

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light, quick, and fun read.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me 🤝 Ursula

Owned by a tuxedo cat named Zorro

[Khris Sellin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful

[Stirling · Rating 5 out of 5]

made me cry on multiple occasions. there is no other love like loving a cat!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poems, letters, reflections, and charming sketches. Le Guin is obsessed with cats and understands how endlessly entertaining cats are...how distinct and individual they are. I read this in a coffee shop and kept laughing out loud at the sly humor.

[Ally · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some cute aspects (poems, drawings, imagined cat letters), but a very sparse book that I would only recommend to readers who are both huge fans of Ursula K. Le Guin AND cats (if only one of the two applies, you will not like this book).