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, Cats, Nonfiction, Essays, Animals, Comics, Art

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.

[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.

[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

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[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. ❤️

[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).

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review: Ursula K. Le Guin’s Book of Cats
Rating: 4.7/5

Ursula K. Le Guin’s posthumously published Book of Cats is a whimsical yet profound ode to feline mystique, blending poetry, philosophy, and art into a treasure trove for cat lovers and literary enthusiasts alike. As a longtime admirer of Le Guin’s speculative fiction, I was delighted by this unexpected glimpse into her playful, tender relationship with the nonhuman world—a theme that reverberates through her oeuvre but shines here with intimate charm.

Strengths & Emotional Resonance
The collection’s eclectic format—spanning haikus, illustrated comics (Supermouse Comix!), and epistolary cat deliberations—captures the capricious spirit of cats themselves. Le Guin’s The Art of Bunditsu (a tongue-in-cheek guide to “arranging” cats) is a standout, merging Zen aesthetics with wry humor. Her poems, whether meditating on a cat’s black ears or their stubborn wildness, oscillate between levity and lyrical depth, echoing her ability to find universality in the mundane.

The inclusion of original drawings adds visceral warmth, revealing Le Guin’s lesser-known talents. The book’s package design (by Isabel Urbina Peña) elevates it to a keepsake object, with illustrated endpapers and a tactile cover that beg to be gifted. Emotionally, I alternated between laughter (at the cats’ faux-serious correspondence) and quiet awe at lines like The presence of a cat keeps me in touch with the mystery—a sentiment that lingers like a purr.

Constructive Criticism
While enchanting, the collection could benefit from:
-Contextual framing: A brief editor’s note on Le Guin’s lifelong feline muse (beyond the jacket copy) would enrich readers’ appreciation.
-Deeper thematic unity: The jump from poetry to comics feels occasionally disjointed; a thematic sectioning (e.g., “Play,” “Philosophy”) might enhance flow.
-Rarefied appeal: Non-cat-lovers or those unfamiliar with Le Guin’s work may find some entries overly niche.

Why This Book Matters
This isn’t just a curio for completists; it’s a testament to Le Guin’s versatility and her belief in art’s power to bridge human and animal worlds. The Five Deliberations—a fictional feline philosophy—subtly critiques human hubris, a hallmark of her broader oeuvre. For academic followers of her work, it offers fresh insights into her creative process; for fans, it’s pure joy.

Thank you to The Library of America and Edelweiss for the advance copy. Book of Cats is a celebration of curiosity, perfect for midnight reading sessions with a cat curled at your feet.

Final Verdict:

Originality: 4.8/5 (A genre-defying gem.)
Artistic Merit: 5/5 (Poetry and visuals harmonize beautifully.)
Emotional Impact: 4.5/5 (Whimsical yet wistful—like watching a cat chase sunlight.)
Accessibility: 4/5 (Best savored by Le Guin devotees and cat aficionados.)

A must-have for fans of The Left Hand of Darkness who’ve ever wondered what Le Guin’s desk looked like—likely covered in paw prints. 🐈‍⬛📖

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He sent his life forth as the crippled tree
puts forth white flowers in April every year
upon the dying branch. He knew the way.[loc. 93]

A birthday gift from a dear friend: it comprises Le Guin's 1982 'The Art of Bunditsu' (a “tabbist” meditation on the arranging of cats, with Le Guin's sketches of her cat Lorenzo); two sets of poems, some of which brought tears to my eyes as they dealt with the deaths of beloved cats; and various cat-letters, anecdotes and blog posts. Even in these small pieces her prose is perfect and precise: I share her love of cats and her preference for treating them as individuals. Beautiful.

[Josh]

A one-sitting read on December 31... am I shamelessly padding my annual read count? YES! <3

I admittedly haven't paid much attention to the posthumous Le Guin collections, but this slim hardcover easily won me over on the new releases table. It did feel like a random topic to make a dedicated collection of, until I remembered that Catwings is still a major way people first encounter Le Guin. (And also, cats! Le Guin! Why not?)

Even if not sitting down to read the full thing, it's well worth finding a copy to see Le Guin's drawings: scratchy and sketchy, but perfectly expressive of many particular cat postures and daily nonsense that cat owners will know well. (And also some amusing surrealism, or likely, family in-jokes. One drawing is captioned "Toms of Atuan".)

There's the inevitable poignant reflections that comes from a life full of beloved short-lifespanned creatures (there's even a full index of every cat Le Guin's family owned), with the poems in particular whamming the unprepared reader (me) with wistful portraits of aging cats. But most of it is very cute. Amusingly, cats seemed to be a magnet for Le Guin to make stylistic parodies of her favorite Taoism. Cuter still, a lot of the drawings here seem to come from family jokes and games, although the book doesn't editorialize them much.

Overall, slight of course, but a very sweet and loving thing.

[Rustic Red Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

thanks to netgalley and Library of America for providing this e-arc in exchange for an honest review

There's a lot of Le Guin books I've been meaning to read like her Earthsea Cycle and Left Hand of Darkness, I also owned her The Telling but haven't really opened it.

So this is my official first Le Guin, but I feel that this is not a book really recommended if one will try Le Guin's writing. There's poems and comic strips about her cats. It also a bit non-fiction, well, since it's about her cats. This feels like a book for Le Guin completionists, not saying it's horrible, but feels too short to really get anything out of it.

[Dan'l Danehy-Oakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A miscellany of drawings, poetry, comics, and whatnot Le Guin wrote about cats, including the cats who owned her over the course of eighty-eight years. Except for some of the poems, very little of this has been availble to the general public before this -- a rather idiosyncratic publication of The Library of America, who have published fine yet reasonably affordable editions of much of her already-published work. (I have one of these, the expanded Always Coming Home , and fully intend to acquire others -- the collected Poetry for starters.)

There is not much to say about it except that it shows Le Guin's humorous side in a way that rarely comes through in her fiction; a couple of these pieces are downright daffy.

Ten out of ten catnip toys.

[Anne Nerison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an absolutely charming collection of poems, comics, drawings, and letters by Ursula K. Le Guin about her cats. My favorites are the letters "written" between Le Guin's cat Zorro and her daughter Elisabeth's cats, Frederika and Opal.

I appreciated that the poetry and comics were interspersed throughout, giving the collection a nice balance and giving breathing room for the poetry. Overall, I think this will be appreciated by cat lovers.

[Christine Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun book to read:)
Lots of love for cats to be felt when reading it.
My favorite was the "Raksha" poem. I also liked the "Supermouse Comix Historic First Issue" and the cat letters. The "Dogerel for my Cat" was good. I really liked the line "cat on his concealed switchblade toes" in the 'Nine Lives, August 9' entry. And the Neko the original Ballooncat and Lorenzo on my lap pictures were great.

[Sherwestonstec · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful selection of poems and drawings of cats by Ursula K.Le Guin. They are all about the cats she owned throughout her life. One of the best sections is called The Cat Letters in which several of her cats communicate with each other by writing letters to each other, they are marvelous! Highly recommended! Especially if you love cats!

[Michele Foschini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Guilty confession: I had never read Le Guin before. I know, I know. But then... cats. And now I am in love with the wit of the human being behind the author, and because of, well, cats, I need to delve immediately in her main body of work. This book is a delight, she even made mini comics... about cats!